Efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome-like symptoms in Parkinson's disease: a single-center, self-controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms in Parkinson's disease. Methods A total of 30 patients with early Parkinson's disease accompanied with constipation and/or diarrhea who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital from March to July 2019 were recruited in this study. All patients were given 3 consecutive weeks FMT treatment (once per week). The frequency of voluntary defecation, stool characteristics, IBS related scale scores, blood routine, liver and kidney functions, and related adverse reactions before and after FMT were detected and recorded. All of them were followed up for 8 weeks. Results The 26 patients suffering from constipation had the times of defecation per week significantly increased from 1.31±0.67 times before treatment to 5.27±2.75 times in 8 week after treatment, and the score of Bristol stool trait scale improved from 1.77±1.03 to 3.81±0.68. In the 4 patients with diarrhea, the number of defecation per week was significantly reduced from 18±1.87 to 6.75±0.43 times, and the scores of Bristol stool traits scale were significantly improved from 4.25±0.43 to 5.75±0.43. Till the 8th week of follow-up, the score of gastrointestinal symptoms rating scale were significantly reduced from 7.7±2.72 to 2.72±2.23, the scores of IBS severity from 137.83±67.86 to 46.67±64.52, and the scores of IBS quality of life scale from 21.47±14.59 to 5.47±6.48 in all the patients (P < 0.05). Conclusion Oral FMT capsule is safe and effective in the improvement of IBS-like symptoms in Parkinson's disease patients.

Keywords

• fecal bacteria transplantation
• parkinson's disease
• irritable bowel syndrome
• gut microbiota