Recent studies have suggested that gut imbalance and deregulation of immunological responses plays a pivotal role in the disease development of UC, and that FMT could be a useful treatment. In the refractory ulcerative colitis group, our study is aims to repeated and multiple FMTs plus PEN in the treatment of refractory pediatric UC. In the induction stage of UC, standard therapy remained unchanged, FMT and PEN were added, and FMT was given 2 courses, 6 times per course. In the maintaining stage, FMT was performed every 3 months, with the same 3 times of FMT treatment for each course, and the withdrawal of conventional drug therapy was gradually reduced. Refractory CD was defined as refractory to standard therapy (e.g., steroids, immunomodulators, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, or anti-TNF agents).~As a first-line treatment group for UC, our study is aims to repeated and multiple FMTs plus PEN as a first-line treatment for active UC in children. Patients treated with FMT coupled with PEN were defined as the FMT group, and those treated with PEN alone served as the PEN group. In the induction stage of UC, FMT group received FMT and PEN intervention, and FMT was given 2 courses,6 times per course. In the maintaining stage, FMT was performed every 3 months, with the same 3 times of FMT treatment for each course.~All the patients received PEN (80% of total calories as a polymeric diet, Peptamen, Nestle, Vevey, and Switzerland) intervention to help induce and maintain clinical remission.
This study included two topics: one was to test the safety and efficacy of repeated and multiple fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs) plus partial enteral nutrition (PEN) in refractory pediatric UC where conventional therapy has failed, and the other was to explore the safety and efficacy of repeated and multiple FMTs plus PEN as first-line therapy for pediatric active UC