VIDEO: 'Glimmer of hope' in FMT for alcohol use disorder
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In this exclusive video, Jasmohan S. Bajaj, MD, of Virginia Commonwealth University, discusses his study from the Digital International Liver Congress on fecal microbiota transplantation in the setting of alcohol use disorder.
In the study, researchers randomly assigned men with AUD-related cirrhosis with problem drinking (AUD identification test [IT]-10>8) to receive one placebo (n = 10) or FMT enema (n = 10) from a donor enriched in Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcacea. The primary outcome of the study was safety at 6 months.
Bajaj and colleagues found that a greater proportion of patients in the FMT group experienced significant reductions in alcohol cravings compared with the placebo group (90% vs. 30%; P = .02). They also had lower urinary ethylglucuronide/creatinine, improved cognition and psychosocial QOL.
Microbial diversity increased among the FMT group, with higher Ruminococcaceae and other short chain fatty acid producing taxa.
After 6 months, the placebo group had more patients with any severe adverse event (8 vs. 2; P = .02) and AUD-related severe adverse events (7 vs. 1; P = .02).
Bajaj said their findings are promising, but more research is needed with bigger study groups.
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Bajaj JS, et al. Hepatology. 2020;doi:10.1002/hep.31496.
Bajaj JS. “Bajaj AS081 Fecal Microbial Transplant Reduces Short-Term Cravings, Improves Quality of Life and Microbial Diversity in Cirrhosis and Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial.” Presented at: The Digital International Liver Congress; Aug. 27-29, 2020
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