Fecal Microbiota Transplantation: A Review of Emerging Indications Beyond Relapsing Clostridium difficile Toxin Colitis.
The symbiotic relationship between gut microbiota and humans has been forged over many millennia. This relationship has evolved to establish an intimate partnership that we are only beginning to understand. Gut microbiota were once considered pathogenic, but the concept of gut microbiota and their influence in human health is undergoing a major paradigm shift, as there is mounting evidence of their impact in the homeostasis of intestinal development, metabolic activities, and the immune system. The disruption of microbiota has been associated with many gastrointestinal and nongastrointestinal diseases, and the reconstitution of balanced microbiota has been postulated as a potential therapeutic strategy. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), a unique method to reestablish a sustained balance in the disrupted microbiota of diseased intestine, has demonstrated great success in the treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection and has gained increasing acceptance in clinical use. The possibility of dysfunctional micro-biota playing a causative role in other gastrointestinal and nongas-trointestinal diseases, therefore, has also been raised, and there are an increasing number of studies supporting this hypothesis. FMT is emerging as a feasible therapeutic option for several diseases; however, its efficacy remains in question, given the lack of clinical trial data. Altering microbiota with FMT holds great promise, but much research is needed to further define FMT's therapeutic role and optimize the microbiota delivery system.
Dr Lee and Dr Lattimer are gastroenterology fellows in the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at George Washington University Medical Center and are affiliated with Medical Faculty Associates, both in Washington, DC. Dr Stephen is a gastroenterologist in Silver Spring, Maryland. Dr Borum is a professor of medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC and the director of the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at George Washington University Medical Center; she is also affiliated with Medical Faculty Associates. Dr Doman is a clinical professor of medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine.
Woo
W
Jung Lee
Dr Lee and Dr Lattimer are gastroenterology fellows in the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at George Washington University Medical Center and are affiliated with Medical Faculty Associates, both in Washington, DC. Dr Stephen is a gastroenterologist in Silver Spring, Maryland. Dr Borum is a professor of medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC and the director of the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at George Washington University Medical Center; she is also affiliated with Medical Faculty Associates. Dr Doman is a clinical professor of medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine.
Lakshmi D N
LD
Lattimer
Dr Lee and Dr Lattimer are gastroenterology fellows in the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at George Washington University Medical Center and are affiliated with Medical Faculty Associates, both in Washington, DC. Dr Stephen is a gastroenterologist in Silver Spring, Maryland. Dr Borum is a professor of medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC and the director of the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at George Washington University Medical Center; she is also affiliated with Medical Faculty Associates. Dr Doman is a clinical professor of medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine.
Sindu
S
Stephen
Dr Lee and Dr Lattimer are gastroenterology fellows in the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at George Washington University Medical Center and are affiliated with Medical Faculty Associates, both in Washington, DC. Dr Stephen is a gastroenterologist in Silver Spring, Maryland. Dr Borum is a professor of medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC and the director of the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at George Washington University Medical Center; she is also affiliated with Medical Faculty Associates. Dr Doman is a clinical professor of medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine.
Marie L
ML
Borum
Dr Lee and Dr Lattimer are gastroenterology fellows in the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at George Washington University Medical Center and are affiliated with Medical Faculty Associates, both in Washington, DC. Dr Stephen is a gastroenterologist in Silver Spring, Maryland. Dr Borum is a professor of medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC and the director of the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at George Washington University Medical Center; she is also affiliated with Medical Faculty Associates. Dr Doman is a clinical professor of medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine.
David B
DB
Doman
Clostridium difficile infection; Fecal microbiota transplantation; inflammatory bowel disease; irritable bowel disease; obesity