title: Gut microbiota in cirrhotic liver transplant candidates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the gut microflora of liver transplant candidates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fecal microflora of 20 cirrhotic liver transplant candidates was analyzed basing on prospectively collected stool samples. The results were compared with those of 20 non-cirrhotic patients with liver disease and/or abnormal liver function tests, 20 patients with Crohn’s disease, and 20 patients without any gastrointestinal disease. Moreover, correlations between particular counts of microbiota, as well as between microbial counts and stool pH were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pattern of fecal microbiota of liver transplant candidates was characterized by increased counts of lactobacilli (p=0.001), including hydrogen peroxide producing strains (p=0.008). In these patients, lactobacilli were positively correlated to enterococci (p=0.006) and bifidobacteria (p=0.004). No correlations other than those observed for lactobacilli in general were observed between hydrogen peroxide producing lactobacilli and the remaining microbiota. Increased yeast and Escherichia coli counts were associated with a tendency towards lower (p=0.095) and higher (p=0.072) stool pH, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surprisingly, gut microflora of liver transplant candidates with cirrhosis is particularly enriched with lactobacilli, including hydrogen peroxide producing strains. Thus, the use of other potentially beneficial microorganisms, such as particular yeast strains, might be more appropriate for these patients.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grąt
authors.forename: Wacław
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hołówko
authors.forename: Mirosława
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gałecka
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grąt
authors.forename: Patrycja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Szachtaz
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lewandowsk
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kosińska
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmidts
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olejnik-Schmidt
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krawczyk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014850:Waiting Lists
chemical_list: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide