Fecal Microbiota Transplantation as the First-line Treatment in Active Pediatric Crohn's Disease

Recent studies have suggested that gut imbalance and deregulation of immunological responses plays a pivotal role in the disease development of Crohn's disease (CD), and that FMT could be a useful treatment. Our study is aims to repeated and multiple FMTs plus PEN as a first-line treatment for active Crohn's disease (CD) in children. The patients were divided into 2 groups voluntarily. Patients treated with FMT coupled with PEN were defined as the FMT group, and those treated with PEN combined with Immunosuppressants (hormones, azathioprine, thalidomide) served as the Immunosuppressive group. The therapeutic effect of the two groups was compared. In the induction stage of CD, FMT group received FMT and PEN intervention, and FMT was given 1-3 courses, 3-6 times per course. The transplantation routes include oral capsule, enema and/or colonoscopy. All the patients received PEN (80% of total calories as a polymeric diet, Peptamen, Nestle, Vevey, and Switzerland) intervention to help induce and maintain clinical remission.

Inclusion criteria

age of older than 2 years and younger than 16 years with no genetic diseases; newly diagnosed with mild-to-moderate CD ( defined by the PCDAI of >10 and ≤40, and SES-CD of >3); Subjects with no change in medication or dose at least 1 week prior to transplantation; agree to received regularly colonoscopy

Exclusion criteria

patients who were treated with corticosteroids, methotrexate, thiopurines, and anti-TNF agents as their first-line treatment