title: Step-up fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) strategy.
abstract: Gut dysbiosis is a characteristic of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and is believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of IBD. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an effective strategy to restore intestinal microbial diversity and has been reported to have a potential therapeutic value in IBD. Our recent study reported a holistic integrative therapy called "step-up FMT strategy," which was beneficial in treating steroid-dependent IBD patients. This strategy consists of scheduled FMTs combined with steroids, anti-TNF-α antibody treatment or enteral nutrition. Herein, we will elaborate the strategy thoroughly, introducing the concept, potential indication, methodology, and safety of "step-up FMT strategy" in detail.
authors.affiliation: a Medical Center for Digestive Diseases , the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.|b Key Lab of Holistic Integrative Enterology , Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.
authors.forename: Bota
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: a Medical Center for Digestive Diseases , the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.|b Key Lab of Holistic Integrative Enterology , Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: a Medical Center for Digestive Diseases , the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.|b Key Lab of Holistic Integrative Enterology , Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: a Medical Center for Digestive Diseases , the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.|b Key Lab of Holistic Integrative Enterology , Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.
authors.forename: Zhaoyuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: a Medical Center for Digestive Diseases , the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.|b Key Lab of Holistic Integrative Enterology , Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: a Medical Center for Digestive Diseases , the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.|b Key Lab of Holistic Integrative Enterology , Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: a Medical Center for Digestive Diseases , the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.|b Key Lab of Holistic Integrative Enterology , Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: a Medical Center for Digestive Diseases , the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.|b Key Lab of Holistic Integrative Enterology , Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.
authors.forename: Guozhong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: c State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology & Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases , the Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , China.
authors.forename: Yongzhan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.affiliation: c State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology & Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases , the Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , China.
authors.forename: Kaichun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: c State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology & Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases , the Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an , China.
authors.forename: Daiming
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: a Medical Center for Digestive Diseases , the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.|b Key Lab of Holistic Integrative Enterology , Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , China.
authors.forename: Faming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000069467:Fecal Microbiota Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease; Step-up fecal microbiota transplantation; Steroids; Ulcerative colitis; dysbiosis