Fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of intestinal steroid-resistant graft-versus-host disease: two case reports and a review of the literature

J Int Med Res. 2020 Jun;48(6):300060520925693. doi: 10.1177/0300060520925693.

Abstract

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) reduces the efficiency and safety of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). In recent years, attempts have been made to transplant fecal microbiota from healthy donors to treat intestinal GvHD. This study presented two cases of patients undergoing allo-HSCT who were later selected for fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). In the first patient, FMT resulted in the complete resolution of symptoms, whereas therapeutic efficacy was not achieved in the second patient. FMT eliminated drug-resistant pathogens, namely very drug-resistant Enterococcus spp., but not multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii or Candida spp. Further research is needed, particularly on the safety of FMT in patients with intestinal steroid-resistant GvHD and on the distant impact of transplanted microflora on the outcomes of allo-HSCT. FMT appears promising for the treatment of patients with steroid-resistant GvHD.

Keywords: Intestinal microflora; acute graft-versus-host disease; allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; antibiotics; multidrug resistance; multiorgan failure; treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy
  • Drug Resistance
  • Dysbiosis / immunology
  • Dysbiosis / microbiology
  • Dysbiosis / pathology
  • Dysbiosis / therapy*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / immunology
  • Glucocorticoids / pharmacology*
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / microbiology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / pathology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / therapy*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / microbiology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / immunology
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / therapy
  • Male
  • Primary Myelofibrosis / immunology
  • Primary Myelofibrosis / therapy
  • Transplantation, Homologous / adverse effects
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids