Encyclopedia of fecal microbiota transplantation: a review of effectiveness in the treatment of 85 diseases

Chin Med J (Engl). 2022 Aug 20;135(16):1927-1939. doi: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000002339.

Abstract

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been used as a core therapy for treating dysbiosis-related diseases by remodeling gut microbiota. The methodology and technology for improving FMT are stepping forward, mainly including washed microbiota transplantation (WMT), colonic transendoscopic enteral tubing (TET) for microbiota delivery, and purified Firmicutes spores from fecal matter. To improve the understanding of the clinical applications of FMT, we performed a systematic literature review on FMT published from 2011 to 2021. Here, we provided an overview of the reported clinical benefits of FMT, the methodology of processing FMT, the strategy of using FMT, and the regulations on FMT from a global perspective. A total of 782 studies were included for the final analysis. The present review profiled the effectiveness from all clinical FMT uses in 85 specific diseases as eight categories, including infections, gut diseases, microbiota-gut-liver axis, microbiota-gut-brain axis, metabolic diseases, oncology, hematological diseases, and other diseases. Although many further controlled trials will be needed, the dramatic increasing reports have shown the promising future of FMT for dysbiosis-related diseases in the gut or beyond the gut.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Dysbiosis / therapy
  • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation / methods
  • Feces
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
  • Humans
  • Microbiota*