Faecal Microbiota Transplantation in the Treatment of Chronic Pouchitis

Patients with the chronic bowel disease pouchitis is disabled by bloody diarrhoea and abdominal pain often followed by fever. Pouchitis is an inflammation in a pouch, a reservoir formed by the small intestine in the management of the chronic inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis. Chronic pouchitis is a rare disease with a prevalence in Denmark of \<1.8 per 10,000 people, mostly younger people (\<50 years). The standard treatment for pouchitis is intensive broad-spectrum antibiotics for a longer period. However, the treatment often fails after repeated treatments. Recent studies show that patients with pouchitis have an altered composition of the gut flora, called microbiota, compared to healthy individuals. As shown by several studies, faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) with administration of faeces from healthy donors can alter the microbiota. Treatment with faecal microbiota transplantation is today known to be the ultimate treatment for antibiotic resistant recurrent bowel infection with the bacteria Clostridium difficile. It is however still uncertain if faecal microbiota transplantation can be used to the treatment of chronic pouchitis. The study primary aims to investigate if transplantation of faeces from healthy donors administrated as enemas to patients with chronic pouchitis is superior to placebo for the treatment of pouchitis. The project is designed as a multi-center, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled treatment study. A positive result from the project will result in an improved treatment to pouchitis patients. Moreover, repeated long-lasting broad-spectrum treatments with antibiotic, which carry a high risk of antibiotic resistance in the society, will be avoided.

Hypothesis: Gut dysbiosis plays a significant causal role in chronic pouchitis. Modulating the gut microbiota using FMT has a clinical effect by inducing clinical remission in patients with chronic pouchitis. Objective of the study: The aim of the MicroPouch-trial is to investigate if transplantation (FMT) of faeces from healthy donors to patients with chronic pouchitis is clinical significant to placebo for the treatment of pouchitis. Study design: The project is designed as a multi-center, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled treatment study. Methods: Faecal microbiota transplantation is performed with faeces from healthy donors. Potential donors are recruited from the Danish Blood Bank. They are screened for a various of infectious diseases by serum analysis (haematology, inflammation, liver and kidney function, HIV, Hepatitis, Cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr virus and HbA1c) and faeces analysis (calprotectin, Clostridium difficile (PCR), enteric pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, parasites, cysts, and viruses). Furthermore, the potential donors will complete an extensive questionnaire regarding general health, risk factors and medical history, before they can be included as faecal donors in the project. The screening procedure is based on recommendation from the European FMT Working Group. The transplantation is performed by enemas, which contain either faeces from the faecal donors or placebo. Initial before the treatment with either donor faeces or placebo, the patient will be invited for serum analysis (CRP, leukocytes) and faecal analysis (calprotectin, Clostridium difficile, enteric pathogenic bacteria), followed by a pouchoscopy with collection of biopsies. Materials from serum- and faecal analysis and biopsies will be stored for later analysis purpose. The patient will further complete questionnaires concerning symptoms and quality of life. The stage of disease will be evaluated based on the acknowledged questionnaire for pouchitis called Pouchitis Disease Activity Index (PDAI) score. The treatment begins after all the initial examinations, and the patient will be treated during one month. The treatment consists of daily enema infusion, which either contain faeces from the faecal donors or placebo. During the treatment, the patient will daily record symptoms related to pouchitis (diarrhea, abdominal pain, bleeding per rectum, fever, general discomfort) and possible adverse effects to the treatment. At the end of treatment, the patient will meet to a follow-up examination including serum analysis (CRP, leukocytes) and faecal analysis (calprotectin), pouchoscopy incl. biopsies, and the questionnaires applied before the treatment. Materials from serum- and faecal analysis and biopsies will be stored for later analysis. The patient will be followed up with serum- and faecal analysis and pouchoscopy after additional 6 and 12 months to evaluate the long term effect of the transplantation. The consumption of antibiotics during the first year will be recorded. In case of lacking effect of faecal microbiota transplantation, the patient is offered standard antibiotic treatment for pouchitis, and will leave the study. Faecal samples and biopsies collected in the study will be analyzed for the composition of the microbiota.