Fecal Microbiota Transplant Effective for Treating Acute GVHD

Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is a relatively safe and viable treatment option for acute gut graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), according to a study presented at the 2021 TCT Meetings of ASTCT & CIBMTR Digital Experience.

“Many studies looking into the pathogenesis of gut GVHD have confirmed the hypothesis that patients with less diverse fecal microbiome have a greater chance of developing intestinal GVHD and are more prone to succumb to transplant-related complications. Looking at the mechanism of cure in various diseases of the gut led us to the thinking that reversal of intestinal dysbiosis could improve gut GVHD,” the researchers wrote.

In this study, fecal samples for FMT were obtained from healthy donors who passed screening for transmissible disease. All patients were given 100 gm of stool in solution, which was administered once daily for four consecutive days through a naso-jejunal tube. The patients received FMT as second-line treatment. The researchers noted that adverse events that were first noted within one week of infusion of FMT were evaluated for safety. Response to FMT was evaluated at 14 days, and complete resolution of symptoms was considered a complete response.

According to the results, FMT was well tolerated by all patients. No side effects related to FMT were suspected or confirmed in any patients, the researchers noted.

The researchers concluded, “FMT can be considered as a potential, relatively safe, and well tolerated option for treatment of acute gut GVHD in [patients undergoing] alloHCT.”

Read more at: https://tct.confex.com/tct/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/16885

Kathrotiya M, et al. Fecal Microbiota Transplant: Is It an Effective Option for Treating Steroid Refractory Acute Graft Versus Host Disease of Gut? Published for the 2021 TCT Meetings of ASTCT & CIBMTR Digital Experience; February 8-12, 2021.