Single-Arm, Non-randomized, Time Series, Single-Subject Study of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Multiple Sclerosis

Authors

Phillip A. Engen, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago
Antonia Zaferiou, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken
Heather Rasmussen, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Ankur Ankub, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago
Stefan J. Green, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago
Louis F. Fogg, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago
Christopher B. Forsyth, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago
Shohreh Raeisi, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago
Bruce Hamaker, Purdue University, West Lafayette
Ali Keshavarzian, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago & Utrecht University, UtrechtFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2020

Citation

Engen PA, Zaferiou A, Rasmussen H, Naqib A, Green SJ, Fogg LF, Forsyth CB, Raeisi S, Hamaker B and Keshavarzian A (2020) Single-Arm, Non-randomized, Time Series, Single-Subject Study of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Multiple Sclerosis. Front. Neurol. 11:978. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00978

Abstract

Emerging evidence suggests intestinal microbiota as a central contributing factor to the pathogenesis of Relapsing-Remitting-Multiple-Sclerosis (RRMS). This novel RRMS study evaluated the impact of fecal-microbiota-transplantation (FMT) on a broad array of physiological/clinical outcomes using deep metagenome sequencing of fecal microbiome. FMT interventions were associated with increased abundances of putative beneficial stool bacteria and short-chain-fatty-acid metabolites, which were associated with increased/improved serum brain-derived-neurotrophic-factor levels and gait/walking metrics. This proof-of-concept single-subject longitudinal study provides evidence of potential importance of intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of MS, and scientific rationale to help design future randomized controlled trials assessing FMT in RRMS patients.