Pilot study of cytokine changes evaluation after fecal microbiota transplantation in patients with ulcerative colitis

AIMS To evaluate the changes of serum cytokines levels after fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC) and the correlation with UC disease activity. METHODS Patients with active UC who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited, and received FMT from a single donor for three times with an interval of 2-3 months. Serum samples were collected before every FMT. Clinical responses to FMT were assessed according to the criteria of Mayo score. 41 serum cytokines, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were quantitatively detected. Changes in serum cytokines levels after FMT and their correlation with CRP, ESR and Mayo scores were investigated. RESULTS 16 active UC patients were enrolled, and 14(87.5%) patients achieved clinical response to FMT. Compared with those before FMT, serum concentrations of IL-1Ra, IL-6, IP-10 and ENA-78 decreased significantly after the second FMT (P