Fecal microbiota transplantation in refractory ulcerative colitis – a case report

Studies comparing gut microbiota profiles of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients have shown several changes in microbiota composition, with marked reduction of local biodiversity relative to that of healthy controls. Modulation of the bacterial community is a promising strategy to reduce the proportion of harmful microorganisms and increase the proportion of beneficial bacteria; this is expected to prevent or treat IBD. The exact mechanism of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) remains unknown; however, replacing the host microbiota can reestablish gut microbial composition and function in IBD patients. The present report describes an ulcerative colitis patient who underwent FMT. A 17-year-old male with moderate to severe clinical activity, which was refractory to mesalazine, azathioprine, and infliximab, underwent FMT as alternative therapy. The patient exhibited clinical improvement after the procedure; however, the symptoms returned. A second FMT was performed 8 months after the first procedure, but the patient did not improve. In conclusion, despite the FMT failure observed in this patient, the procedure is a promising therapeutic option for IBD patients, and more in-depth studies of this method are needed.