CONTROL ID: 1147679
ABSTRACT FINAL ID: P1111;
TITLE: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
AUTHORS/INSTITUTIONS: T.J. Borody, S.M. Leis, J.L. Campbell, M. Torres, A. Nowak, , Centre for
Digestive Diseases, Five Dock, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA;
ABSTRACT BODY:
Purpose: Recent evidence implicates the GI microbiota in the progression of neurological diseases such as
Parkinsons Disease
1
, Multiple Sclerosis and Myasthenia Gravis
2
. We report three patients with MS
diagnoses who achieved durable symptom reversal with FMT for constipation.
Methods: Case study observations on three MS cases
Results: Case 1: A 30 yr old male with constipation, vertigo and impaired concentration and a concomitant
history of MS and trigeminal neuralgia. Neurological symptoms included severe leg weakness and he
required a wheelchair and an indwelling urinary catheter. Previous failed treatments included Mexiletine,
Tryptanol and ß-interferon. The patient underwent 5 FMT infusions for his constipation, with its complete
resolution. Interestingly his MS also progressively improved, regaining the ability to walk and facilitating the
removal of his catheter. Initially seen as a ‘remission’, the patient remains well 15 yrs post-FMT without
relapse

Case 2: A 29 yr old wheelchair-bound male with ‘atypical MS’ diagnosis and severe, chronic constipation. He 
reported parasthesia and leg muscle weakness. The patient received 10 days of FMT infusions which
resolved his constipation. He also noted progressive improvement in neurological symptoms, regaining the
ability to walk following slow resolution of leg parasthesia. Three years on the patient maintains normal
motor, urinary and GI function.
Case 3: An 80 yr old female presented with severe chronic constipation, proctalgia fugax and severe
muscular weakness resulting in difficulty walking, diagnosed as ‘atypical’ MS. She received 5 FMT infusions
with rapid improvement of constipation and increased energy levels. At eight months she reported complete
resolution of bowel symptoms and neurological improvement, now walking long distances unassisted. Two
years post-FMT, the patient was asymptomatic.
Conclusion: We report reversal of major neurological symptoms in three patients after FMT for their
underlying GI symptoms. As MS can follow a relapsing-remitting course, this unexpected discovery was not
reported until considerable time had passed to confirm prolonged remission. It is tempting to speculate that
FMT achieved eradication of an occult GI pathogen driving MS symptoms.
Our finding that FMT can reverse MS-like symptoms suggests a GI infection underpinning these disorders. It
is hoped that such serendipitous findings may encourage a new direction in neurological research.
References
1. Borody et al Am J Gast 2009;104:S367