Fecal microbiota transplantation through colonoscopy for the management of severe refractory irritable bowel syndrome: Preliminary results

Abstract

Recent studies have explored the role of the microbiota in disorders of gut-brain interaction, opening pathways for therapies, such as dietary adjustments, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). We present herein a pilot study on 4 patients with severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), refractory to conventional treatment, in which FMT through colonoscopy showed improvement in pain, bloating, and stool consistency that was maintained during the 6-month follow-up. To establish the broader clinical application of FMT, more research on its efficacy according to instillation site and patient results is needed.