Serial Frozen Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in the Treatment of Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Background/Aims

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a serious, life-threatening motility disorder that is often related to bacterial overgrowth. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) results in restoration of the normal intestinal microbial community structure. We investigated the efficacy of FMT in the treatment of CIPO patients.

Methods

Nine patients (age 18–53 years) with CIPO were enrolled in this prospective, open-label study. Patients received FMT for 6 consecutive days through nasojejunal (NJ) tubes and were followed up for 8 weeks after treatment. We evaluated the rate of clinical improvement and remission, feeding tolerance of enteral nutrition, and CT imaging scores of intestinal obstructions. Lactulose hydrogen breath tests were performed before FMT and 8 weeks after FMT to evaluate for the presence small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

Results

FMT significantly alleviated bloating symptoms, and symptoms of pain were relieved 2 weeks after FMT. Enteral nutrition administered through a NJ tube after FMT was well-tolerated by 66.7% (6/9) of patients. CT scores of intestinal obstructions were significantly reduced after FMT (P = 0.014). SIBO was eliminated in 71.0% (5/7) of patients.

Conclusions

This pilot study demonstrated the safety of using FMT. FMT may relieve symptoms in selected patients with CIPO. FMT may also improve patient tolerance of enteral nutrition delivered via a NJ tube.

Introduction

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction can be categorized as either acute or chronic. Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a rare clinical syndrome first reported by Dudley et al¹ in 1958. CIPO is a functional motility disorder characterized by episodic obstructive symptoms in the absence of a mechanical cause. In most cases, operative treatment cannot circumvent the course of CIPO and can actually worsen the motility disorder.² Inadequate oral intake, recurrent episodes of obstruction, and malabsorption are the main clinical features of CIPO, with 20% to 60% of patients needing long-term home parenteral nutrition.³ Thus, the main goals in CIPO management are improvement of intestinal propulsion and maintenance of adequate nutritional status.⁴ Recently, the ability to maintain oral feeding was found to be an independent predictor of survival in patients with CIPO.²

The etiology and cause of CIPO are not well clarified. When impairment of gut motility and transit are severe, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may occur, further contributing to malnutrition and vitamin deficiency.⁵ SIBO may also in turn exacerbate intestinal dysmotility.^6,7 Currently, non-absorbable antibiotics (eg, rifaximin) are used to alleviate SIBO-associated symptoms.^8,9 This beneficial effect of antibiotics may in part be due altered location or quality of the patient’s gastrointestinal microbiota.¹⁰

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a technique in which intestinal microbiota are transferred from a healthy donor to a patient with altered gut microbiota because of a disease or condition. The goal of FMT is to treat the patient by replicating the phylogenetic microbiota diversity found in the healthy donor. Most clinical experience with FMT to date has been in relation to the treatment of Clostridium difficile infections.^11,12 However, FMT may also be effective in the treatment of other conditions associated with dysbiosis, such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and metabolic syndrome. Although the exact mechanism of the effect of FMT remains unclear, some research suggests that alleviation of symptoms after FMT is associated with changes in microbial community structure, such as restoration of microbial diversity.¹³

Because gut microbiota dysbiosis contributes to the pathology of CIPO, we hypothesized that manipulating the gut microbiome through FMT could reverse intestinal dysbiosis and consequently resolve overt CIPO. The present pilot study aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FMT delivered via a nasojejunal (NJ) tube for the treatment of CIPO. We also present a simple and easily reproducible protocol to identify and screen stool donors and to perform the FMT.

Materials and Methods

Patients

The study sample comprised of 9 patients (5 women, median age 32 years) with a long-standing diagnosis of CIPO (median duration of illness 35 months). Eligible CIPO patients were identified via specialist gastrointestinal clinics. To be eligible, patients had to meet the diagnostic criteria for CIPO proposed by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare,¹⁴ including documented pathological bowel dilatation in the absence of mechanical obstruction on imaging. The patients underwent FMT between December 2014 and September 2015.

Lactulose Hydrogen Breath Test

A lactulose hydrogen breath test was administered to patients before and after FMT to assay for the presence of SIBO. Patients were instructed to fast for at least 12 hours before the test. Patients were asked to brush their teeth and rinse out their mouths with an antiseptic mouth wash at least 2 hours before the test to avoid false positive high basal levels of hydrogen from fermentation of substrate by oral bacteria. Patients were administered d 75 g of lactose in 150 mL of water, and breath samples were collected every 30 minutes for 3 hours. Patients were asked to refrain from any exercise, sleep, or cigarette smoking during the test to avoid possible effects on breath hydrogen levels. Breath concentrations of hydrogen and methane were analyzed immediately by gas chromatography using an SC Microlyzer (QuinTron Instrument Co, Milwaukee, WI, USA). The results were reported in parts per million (ppm). SIBO was diagnosed if breath concentrations of hydrogen or methane were ≥ 12 ppm over baseline values for at least 3 measurements.¹⁵

Fecal Donors

Volunteer fecal donors were prospectively screened and rescreened every 6 months according to recommendations by Bakken et al.¹⁶ Donor feces were tested for enteric pathogens, including Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli O157 H7, Yersinia, C. difficile toxin, helminths, ova, cysts, parasites, and Helicobacter pylori. Fecal testing was performed using standard methods. Most stools were obtained from 4 donors (age, 20–24 years) who met the selection criteria. Donors who met the selection criteria donated stool samples at least 48 hours before the FMT to permit preparation of samples.

Preparation of Fecal Suspensions

Approximately 100 g of fresh stool was mixed with 500 mL of 0.9% sterile saline for several seconds to achieve a smooth consistency. To strain out large particles, the sample was filtered through a gauze placed on top of an empty container. A portion of the filtered suspension (100 mL) was transferred into an enema bag. The rest of the suspension (150 mL) was diluted in 0.9% sterile saline to a volume of 400–425 mL and filtered through a series of gauze screens (2.0 mm to 0.7 mm to 0.2 mm) to remove small particles. The resulting concentrated fecal suspension was amended with glycerinum to a final concentration of 10% and stored at −20°C for a maximum of 30 days. The stool suspension was thawed at 25°C, poured into a sterile bottle, and used for FMT within 2 hours.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Procedure

First, a NJ tube was placed in the patient’s proximal jejunum endoscopically or via X-ray fluoroscopy, and the position of the tube was verified by abdominal radiography. To confirm the absence of any mechanical obstruction, 100 mL of undiluted contrast agent (Gastrografin, Bayer Schering Pharma, Germany) was administered through the NJ tube by a doctor who was not associated with the study. After flatus or defecation, the patient was administered 500 mg vancomycin through the NJ tube once per day for 3 consecutive days. Following antibiotic treatment, the prepared stool suspension was delivered through the NJ tube for 6 consecutive days. Patients were fasted and were given either parenteral nutrition or intravenous fluids during the FMT treatment.

Efficacy and Outcomes

Primary endpoints were as follows: (1) the tolerance of enteral nutrition (EN) through the NJ tube. Feeding tolerance (FT) was defined as the ability to deliver 80% of the amount of nutrient as a proportion of energy requirements, with values of 80% chosen or a certain volume (750 mL) per 24 hours¹⁷ and (2) the ability to eat food and finish a meal (yes/no). The start of oral intake (both fluids and solid food) was also noted.

Secondary endpoints were symptomatic relief and scoring evaluation of the abdominal CT. Patients were required to keep a daily diary of the occurrence and severity of pain, nausea, vomiting, and bloating using the following scores: 0 = absent, 1 = mild, 2 = medium, 3 = severe, or 4 = could not be worse. These data were subsequently recorded by a nurse who was not associated with the FMT procedure. A CT scoring system¹⁸ was used to evaluate the severity of obstruction before and after FMT (Table 1). This system scores the need for surgery based on CT findings of free air, transition points, complete obstruction, closed loops, free fluid, and partial obstruction. Abdominal CT was conducted before FMT and at 8 weeks after FMT, with scores calculated as “initial CT findings” and “repeat CT findings,” respectively. A score of 8 or higher predicted the need for surgery 75% of the time, and a value of 8 on the scoring system affects the sensitivity versus specificity.¹⁸

Table 1.

Point Values for Computed Tomography Scoring System

Initial CT findings
Free air	5
Transition point	3
Complete obstruction	3
Closed loop	3
Free fluid	3
Partial obstruction	2
Repeat CT findings
Resolution	−5
Improved obstruction	−2
Persistent SBO	+2
Worsening obstruction	+3
Free air	+5

SBO, small-bowel obstruction.

A score of 8 or higher predicted the need for surgery 75% of the time, a value of 8 on the scoring system affects the sensitivity versus specificity.

After completing 9 days of treatment, patients were evaluated for 8 additional weeks. Study visits were conducted on the third day of FMT and on days 7, 14, 21, 28, and 56. Efficacy assessments were obtained daily via an interactive voice-response system over the course of the entire study.

Adverse Events Reporting

Patients recorded any adverse events in their daily diary and reported them to the investigator. The investigator determined the likelihood of the reported adverse event being related to the study treatments.

Statistical Methods

The primary endpoint was the duration (in days) of symptoms until patients could tolerate EN through the NJ tube. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 22.0 (SPSS, Inc, Chicago IL, USA). Non-normally distributed data are presented as medians and quartiles (25th and 75th percentiles), and categorical data are presented as n (%). Outcomes before and after treatment were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Ethics

Patients were fully informed of the benefits and potential risks of standardized FMT and laboratory screening. Written, informed consent was obtained from all patients. The research protocol was approved by the Jinling Hospital’s medical ethics committee and was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT 02731183). All patients provided written informed consent.

Results

Patient Characteristics

Characteristics of the 9 patients with CIPO who received FMT are shown in Table 2.

Table 2.

Demographic Data of Fecal Microbiota Transplant Recipients

Patient	Sex	Age	Weight (kg)	BMI (kg/m2)	Serum pre-albumin (mg/L)	Creatinine (μmoI/L)	Time since onset of symptoms (mo)	Other treatments before FMT
1	F	17	35.0	13.6	212	36	124	Prucalopride
2	F	33	48.5	19.4	160	50	112	Partial intestine resection
3	M	16	38.0	14.0	74	60	24	Operation of intestine adhesion relaxation
4	M	28	43.0	13.0	68	208	35	Ileostomy
5	F	18	28.0	11.4	190	22	22	Mosapride
6	F	29	45.0	17.3	179	59	13	Ileostomy
7	M	32	56.0	17.6	225	69	12	Ileostomy
8	F	50	56.0	15.5	155	51	24	Ileostomy
9	M	68	59.0	19.3	146	54	8	None

BMI, body mass index; FMT, fecal microbiota transplant; F, female; M, male.

Effect of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation on Enteral Nutrition Feeding Tolerance and Ability to Eat Food

At 8 weeks after FMT, 6 of 9 (66.7%) patients could tolerate EN through an NJ tube; most of the estimated caloric needs of these patients were satisfied, and they did not require parenteral nutrition. Although 3 patients (33.3%) patients still exhibited feeding intolerance and required home parenteral nutrition, 4 (44.4%) were able to eat normally 8 weeks after FMT. Two patients (patients 5 and 9) received home enteral nutrition support.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Effects on Symptom Evaluations, Computed Tomography Scoring, and Lactulose Hydrogen Breath Test Results

FMT affected the CIPO symptom severity. A significant time-by-treatment interaction was observed for the bloating and pain symptom scores. As shown in Table 3, bloating scores demonstrated a significant reduction among data obtained at baseline, 6 days median 2 (lower quartile: 2, upper quartile: 3), 1 week 2 (2, 3), 2 weeks 2 (1, 2), 3 weeks 1 (1, 2), 4 weeks 1 (1, 3), and 8 weeks 1 (0, 3) (P < 0.05). The patient’s pain scores were reduced from baseline 2 (1, 2.5) to 2 weeks 1 (0.5, 2), 3 weeks 1 (0, 1.5), 4 weeks 1 (0, 1.5), and 8 weeks 1 (0, 1.5) (P < 0.05). The vomiting scores were reduced only in 4 weeks 1 (0, 2) from baseline 2 (0.5, 3) (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between pre- and post-FMT nausea scores.

Table 3.

Changes of Symptoms Scores of 9 Patients Completing the Study at Different Time Points

	Bloating		Nausea		Pain		Vomiting
	Medians (lower and upper quartiles)	P-value	Medians (lower and upper quartiles)	P-value	Medians (lower and upper quartiles)	P-value	Medians (lower and upper quartiles)	P-value
Before FMT	3 (2.5, 4.0)		2 (0.5, 2.0)		2 (1.0, 2.5)		2 (0.5, 3.0)
Day 6	2 (2.0, 3.0)	0.025a	2 (1.5, 2.5)	0.180	2 (1.0, 2.5)	> 0.99	2 (1.0, 3.0)	0.705
1 wk	2 (2.0, 3.0)	0.011a	2 (1.0, 3.0)	0.083	1 (1.0, 2.5)	0.157	2 (1.0, 2.5)	0.655
2 wk	2 (1.0, 2.0)	0.009a	2 (1.0, 2.0)	> 0.99	1 (0.5, 2.0)	0.014a	1 (1.0, 2.0)	0.257
3 wk	1 (1.0, 2.0)	0.010a	2 (0.5, 2.0)	0.564	1 (0.0, 1.5)	0.023a	1 (0.5, 2.0)	0.157
4 wk	1 (1.0, 3.0)	0.011a	1 (0.0, 2.0)	0.250	1 (0.0, 1.5)	0.023a	1 (0.0, 2.0)	0.020a
8 wk	1 (0.0, 3.0)	0.010a	1 (0.0, 2.0)	0.630	1 (0.0, 1.5)	0.014a	1 (0.0, 2.0)	0.084

^aP < 0.05, statistically significant reduction of symptoms vs before treatment.

FMT, fecal microbiota transplant.

Each group of statistics are indicated with medians and quartiles (25th percentile, 75th percentile). Scores represented as 0 = absent, 1 = mild, 2 = medium, 3 = severe, or 4 = could not be worse.

CT scores of the 9 patients are shown in Table 4. All scores were under 8, and the scores of repeat CT findings (median: 3, range: 0–5) compared with initial CT findings (median: 5, range: 2–6,) were significantly reduced (P = 0.014). These data suggest that a significant number of patients were in remission following FMT.

Table 4.

Clinical Course of Fecal Microbiota Transplant Recipients

Patient	Primary clinical outcomea	Time since FMT (wk)b	Ability of oral intake	CT score (initial CT findings)	CT score (repeat CT findings)c	SIBO (before FMT)	SIBO (after FMT)
1	−		−	6	4	+	+
2	+	6.0	+	5	0	+	−
3	+	5.5	+	6	1	+	−
4	−		−	5	5	−	−
5	+	4.0	−	5	3	+	−
6	+	5.0	+	2	0	+	+
7	−		−	6	4	−	−
8	+	7.0	+	2	2	+	−
9	+	4.0	−	6	4	+	−

^aPrimary endpoint: the tolerance of enteral nutrition through nasojejunal tube 8 weeks after fecal microbiota transplant (FMT). We defined feeding tolerance as ability to deliver the amount of nutrient as a proportion of “energy requirements,” with values of 80% chosen, or a certain amount (750 mL) per 24 hours.

^bTime from FMT to tolerate enteral nutrition.

^cP < 0.05 (repeat CT findings vs initial CT findings).

SIBO, small bowel bacterial overgrowth; −, indicates not applicable; +, applicable.

Pre- and post-FMT plain radiographs and abdominal CT scans of patient 3 are shown in Figures 1 and 2, respectively.

Figure 1.

X-ray plain films of Patient 3 at different periods. Abdominal plain radiograph performed in upright position shows multiple distended bowel loops before treatment. No mechanical cause of obstruction is seen. This situation improved significantly after fecal microbiota transplant treatment for 8 weeks. R, right.

Figure 2.

CT scan of patient 3 at different periods. Axial CT images obtained at different levels of slice show marked distension and gas-fluid levels. No mechanical cause of obstruction is seen. These symptoms disappeared after serial fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) treatment.

Lactulose hydrogen breath testing showed that 7 of 9 patients (77.8%) were positive for SIBO at baseline. However, 8 weeks after FMT, only 2 patients (patients 1 and 6) tested positive for SIBO (Table 4). These findings indicate that SIBO was resolved in 71.0% (5/7) of patients after FMT.

Intolerance and Adverse Events

No severe adverse events were observed during endoscopic infusion, immediately after FMT, or during the 8-week follow-up period.

Discussion

CIPO is one of the most severe and well-described gastrointestinal neuromuscular diseases. It is not a single disorder but is rather a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by disordered peristalsis. In CIPO, the normal antegrade propulsive activity of the intestinal tract is defective, thereby resulting in the development of symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and bloating. Because affected individuals are often unable to maintain adequate nutrition and normal body weight, CIPO is a severe cause of chronic intestinal failure. CIPO is a rare and often misdiagnosed disease. CIPO patients often undergo useless and potentially dangerous abdominal surgeries. Traditional surgical procedures are generally unable to correct the digestive dysmotility characteristic of this disease.¹⁹

A large percentage of patients with CIPO require different forms of nutritional support.³ The long-term outcome is often poor for many CIPO patients because they cannot maintain their nutritional status. Many patients cannot tolerate enteral nutrition, whether taken orally or delivered through nasogastric or NJ tubes. About 20% to 60% of patients require long-term home parenteral nutrition, and complications related to parental nutrition administration occur in 45–80% cases. The mortality rate for adults with CIPO is about 10%.²⁰ Hence, the goals of treatment include control of symptoms, enhancement in nutritional status, improvement of nutritional status, and maintenance of quality of life.^21,22

The etiology of primary CIPO is varied. Abnormalities of smooth muscle cells, interstitial cells of Cajal, intrinsic (enteric) and extrinsic neural supplies, and the central nervous system may all play a role in the pathophysiology of CIPO whether separately or in various combinations.²³ Symptoms can vary depending on which intestinal segment is primarily affected. Abnormal motility is associated with SIBO, which causes mucosal inflammation, thereby directly affecting the sensorimotor function of the intestine and creating a vicious cycle.²⁴

SIBO with coliform bacteria is common and well described in patients with CIPO.^6,25 SIBO may also cause symptoms, such as chronic diarrhea, bloating, abdominal distention, flatulence, and changes in bowel habits.²⁶ These symptoms may occur because of increased gas production, toxic byproducts, or increased osmotic load due to bacterial metabolism of substrates in the small intestine. In a study of intestinal motility in patients with SIBO,²⁷ 51% had altered motility, resulting in symptoms similar to those associated with IBS; eradication of SIBO resulted in normalization of motility. Treatment with poorly absorbed antibiotics, such as rifaximin, may improve motility.²⁸ Notably, antibiotic treatment for SIBO may stop diarrhea but can induce a reappearance of constipation, leading to worsening of CIPO symptoms.⁵ A recent study showed that antibiotic treatment may decrease the fecal output, delay whole gut and colonic transit, and reduce spontaneous contractions and the response to acetylcholine in the ileum and colon.²⁹ Accordingly, the treatment strategies for SIBO include not only elimination of pathogenic bacteria but also restoration of normal intestinal bacterial microflora, improvement of gastrointestinal motor function, control of visceral sensitivity, and proper nutritional management.³⁰

FMT involves administration of fecal material containing distal gut microbiota from a healthy person (donor) to a patient with a disease or condition related to dysbiosis, or to a patient with altered gut microbiota. FMT aims to treat the disease by restoring phylogenetic diversity and microbiota that are typically found in a healthy person.¹³ The most common clinical application of FMT is treating C. difficile infections which are otherwise unresponsive to standard antibiotic therapies.¹² FMT is becoming more widely practiced and has gained interest of patients, researchers, and industry in recent years. Because alterations in the intestinal microbiota contribute to CIPO, we hypothesized that manipulating the gut microbiome through FMT could reverse intestinal dysbiosis and result in resolution of overt CIPO. Hence, we conducted this pilot study to explore the effect of FMT in CIPO treatment.

There are numerous routes by which FMT can be administered, including infusion via nasogastric or nasoenteric tubes, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, and enema. There is no clear consensus on the best method of instillation. FMT is reported to be effective by all of these routes, and the preferred method may vary with the clinical situation.¹³ Because CIPO predominantly affects the small intestine, in our study, an NJ tube was placed using X-ray fluoroscopy or endoscopy. Following tube placement, alimentary tract contrast examination was performed to verify the absence of mechanical obstruction. The non-absorbed antibiotic vancomycin was delivered through the NJ tube to reduce local gut mucosal engagement of bacteria, and then, previously frozen fecal material was administered to patients through the NJ tube for 6 consecutive days.

After 8 consecutive weeks of observation following FMT, patients’ symptom scores were significantly reduced for pain and bloating but not for vomiting and nausea. Chronic abdominal pain and bloating are 2 predominant symptoms in patients with CIPO. Chronic abdominal pain is defined as an unpleasant sensation that is diffuse and difficult to localize compared with somatic pain.³¹ Gut microbiota dysbiosis, luminal dilatation, increased intestinal permeability, and mucosal inflammation may contribute to the development of visceral hyperalgesia with sensitization of peripheral and central pain pathways.^3,32 Visceral hypersensitivity characterizing constipation-predominant IBS patients can be transferred to rats by fecal microbiota.³³ In IBS patients, alteration of intestinal microbiota has been linked to immune dysfunction and altered neurological functions, such as reduced pain threshold and increased anxiety, suggesting that restoration of normal intestinal homeostasis via FMT may result in symptomatic improvement.³⁴ Our results confirmed that FMT delivered through an NJ tube may relieve abdominal pain and bloating symptoms in CIPO patients.

The microbiota plays a key role in the development and promotion of normal gut neuromotor function. The etiology of malnutrition in CIPO is multifactorial and includes the following: inadequate intake of nutrients, malabsorption from bacterial overgrowth, and increased metabolic demand secondary to inefficient production of ATP within the mitochondria.³⁵ Above all, the intolerance of EN in CIPO may be due to dysmotility of the digestive tract. In our study, we observed that after serial FMT for 6 consecutive days, 6 out of 9 patients could tolerate EN through an NJ tube, with the amount of nutrition meeting 80% of total energy requirements. Furthermore, 4 out of 9 patients could tolerate an oral liquid diet. These results suggest that serial FMT may be a candidate therapy for CIPO.

This study had several limitations. First, the number of cases in the study was low, and a comparison group was not included. The incidence rates of CIPO are low, and 6 of these patients were surgically treated, 4 of whom underwent ileostomy. Thus, the individual difference is obvious. Second, follow up for this study was only out to 8 weeks. A longer follow-up time is necessary to assess the long-term efficacy of FMT. Finally, the composition of the intestinal microbiota was not investigated before and after FMT. The changes in the abundance and diversity of intestinal microorganisms following FMT need to be examined. Randomized trials will be necessary to answer the many challenging questions regarding clinical applications of this treatment.

In summary, the results of this pilot study suggest that FMT may be beneficial for the treatment of CIPO. Carefully designed randomized trials will be needed to confirm the findings.