Published online Jul 26, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i21.4691
Revised: May 28, 2024
Accepted: June 19, 2024
Published online: July 26, 2024
Processing time: 94 Days and 15 Hours
Numerous studies have assessed the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a therapy for ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the treatment processes and outcomes of these studies vary.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of FMT for treating UC by conducting a systematic meta-analysis.
The inclusion criteria involved reports of adult patients with UC treated with FMT, while studies that did not report clinical outcomes or that included patients with infection were excluded. Clinical remission (CR) and endoscopic remission (ER) were the primary and secondary outcomes, respectively.
We included nine studies retrieved from five electronic databases. The FMT group had better CR than the control group [relative risk (RR) = 1.53; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19-1.94; P < 0.0008]. ER was statistically significantly different between the two groups (RR = 2.80; 95%CI: 1.93-4.05; P < 0.00001). Adverse events did not differ significantly between the two groups.
FMT demonstrates favorable performance and safety; however, well-designed randomized clinical trials are still needed before the widespread use of FMT can be recommended. Furthermore, standardizing the FMT process is urgently needed for improved safety and efficacy.
Core Tip: We conducted a meta-analysis on the use of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for treating ulcerative colitis (UC), marking the first meta-analysis following the Rome consensus by experts in inflammatory bowel disease. This study stands out as it contributes to the establishment of standard procedures for FMT in UC treatment and facilitates its clinical application. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing research data, we found that FMT holds significant potential in UC treatment and has shown promising efficacy to a certain extent. This finding provides robust support for expanding clinical practices while also suggesting further avenues for research to elucidate the mechanisms and optimal therapeutic strategies of FMT in UC treatment.