Background and aims: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has gained interest as a novel treatment option for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). While publications describing FMT as therapy for IBD have more than doubled since 2012, research that investigates FMT treatment efficacy has been scarce. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of FMT as treatment for patients with IBD. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed through May 2014. Inclusion criteria required FMT as the primary therapeutic agent. Clinical remission (CR) and/or mucosal healing were defined as primary outcomes. Studies were excluded if they did not report clinical outcomes or included patients with infections. Results: Eighteen studies (9 cohort studies, 8 case studies and 1 randomized controlled trial) were included. 122 patients were described (79 ulcerative colitis (UC); 39 Crohn's disease (CD); 4 IBD unclassified). Overall, 45% (54/119) of patients achieved CR during follow-up. Among the cohort studies, the pooled proportion of patients that achieved CR was 36.2% (95% CI 17.4%–60.4%), with a moderate risk of heterogeneity (Cochran's Q, P = 0.011; I2 = 37%). Subgroup analyses demonstrated a pooled estimate of clinical remission of 22% (95% CI 10.4%–40.8%) for UC (P = 0.37; I2 = 0%) and 60.5% (95% CI 28.4%–85.6%) for CD (P = 0.05; I2 = 37%). Six studies performed microbiota analysis. Conclusions: This analysis suggests that FMT is a safe, but variably efficacious treatment for IBD. More randomized controlled trials are needed and should investigate frequency of FMT administration, donor selection and standardization of microbiome analysis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) patients are at greater risk for the development of colorectal neoplasia. Several individual studies have demonstrated associations between severity of histologic inflammation and colorectal neoplasia. However, a comprehensive systematic review has not been completed. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the relationship between histologic inflammation and risk for neoplasia among available observational studies. Three databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library) were systematically searched. Studies were included if they included UC patients who underwent colonoscopic assessment and when histologic inflammation and colorectal neoplasia were both reported. Colorectal neoplasia rates were compared. Quantitative meta-analysis was attempted. Four of 1,422 records found were eligible. Results from 2 case-control studies reported a 3.5-fold increased risk for colorectal neoplasia associated with a single point increase in histologic inflammation. This result was further corroborated by one cohort study that demonstrated increased hazard ratios. The second cohort study reported outcomes for patients with normal gross endoscopy, but had increased histological inflammation when neoplasia was assessed. Finally, this study reported increased risk for neoplastic progression by histological inflammation among patients who were normal by gross endoscopic evaluation. Quantitative meta-analysis was unsuccessful due to heterogeneity between study measures. There is strong evidence that histologic inflammation among patients with UC increases the risk of colorectal neoplasia. The depth and nature of assessment of additional clinical variables was varied and may have resulted in greater outcome discrepancy. Additional study related to mechanisms of inflammation-related neoplasia and therapeutic modification is needed.

Vedolizumab is approved for moderate to severe Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). We present prospective, 1-year data of the real-world effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab in inflammatory bowel disease. Consecutive patients receiving vedolizumab for treatment of UC or CD with at least 14 weeks of follow-up, regardless of outcome, were included. Patients had clinical activity scores (Harvey-Bradshaw Index [HBI] or Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index [SCCAI]) and inflammatory markers prospectively measured at baseline and weeks 14, 30, and 52. Clinical response was defined as a reduction ≥3 in HBI or SCCAI, clinical remission as HBI ≤4 or SCCAI ≤2, steroid-free remission as clinical remission without the need for corticosteroids, and mucosal healing (assessed at 6 months) as a Mayo endoscopic subscore of 0 or 1 or CD-SES <3. A total of 132 patients were included: 61 (45%) male, 94 (71%) with CD, 42 (29%) with UC; 22% and 34% of CD and UC patients, respectively, achieved steroid-free remission by week 14. This increased to 31% in CD patients and plateaued at 35% in UC patients at 12 months. Increasing remission rates to 6 months were seen in patients with CD, but minimal improvements after 3 months of therapy occurred in those with UC. Mucosal healing was achieved in 52% of UC and 30% of CD patients. Most adverse events were minor; 74% remained on vedolizumab at 12 months. In this real-world study, vedolizumab demonstrated similar efficacy and safety seen in pivotal trials, with sustained clinical response in the majority of patients. Similar rates of response were seen in UC and CD patients.

Methotrexate (MTX) is sometimes used as part of combination therapy for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]; however, the optimal MTX dose for combination therapy has not been established. This study compared the efficacy of lower-dose and higher-dose MTX with anti tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF) therapy among IBD patients. Retrospective chart review was performed of 88 IBD patients at our center between 2010 and 2013. Low-dose MTX was defined as ≤ 12.5mg/week and high-dose MTX as 15–25mg/week. Patients who met the criteria for clinical remission [Harvey-Bradshaw Index ≤ 4, Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index ≤ 2] at baseline were followed for up to 42 months. Chart review occurred in 6-month intervals. The primary outcome was consecutive months in remission prior to relapse. Secondary outcomes included other indicators of worsening disease [endoscopic inflammation, steroid use, therapy escalation/addition, or surgery] and adverse events. Regression analysis and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis were completed. We identified 73 [83%] dual-therapy patients, of whom 32 low-dose and 14 high-dose individuals achieved remission. When compared with high-dose patients, low-dose patients were more likely to relapse [log-rank test, p < 0.01]. Secondary indicators of worsening disease occurred during 34.4% of low-dose review periods and 31.4% of high-dose review periods [p = 0.67]; 3/52 [6%] low-dose patients and 3/21 [14%] high-dose patients [p = 0.34] discontinued MTX therapy due to adverse events. When combined with anti-TNF therapy, MTX at doses of >12.5mg/week was more effective at maintaining clinical remission than lower doses. These findings will guide management of combination therapy in IBD patients.