Controversy of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Treating Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is reported to be a promising therapy for patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD). Randomized controlled trials have reported the effectiveness of FMT in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. However, many associated unknowns still remain, such as the preparation, the transplantation route, donor and recipient selection, and potential adverse events including the risk of IBD flare post-FMT. Therefore, FMT should only be administered in patients with IBD in a circumstanced setting, such as clinical trials.