Effect of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) in Pediatric Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGIDs)

September 3, 2025 updated by: Biao Zou

Efficacy and Safety of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in the Treatment of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Children

Safety and efficacy of FMT in Pediatric Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Detailed Description

The gut microbiota is critical to health and functions with a level of complexity comparable to that of an organ system. Dysbiosis, or alterations of this gut microbiota ecology, have been implicated in a number of disease states. Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), also known as brain-intestinal interaction abnormalities, are associated with dynamic disorders, high visceral sensitivity, changes in mucosal and immune functions, changes in intestinal flora, and abnormal central nervous system regulatory functions. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a process in which a presumed healthy and diverse microbiome is transplanted to a patient using a nasogastric tube, colonoscopy, or enema, or Fecal capsule to remodel the intestinal flora balance. At present, there are few clinical studies on the treatment of FGID in children with FMT. The investigators prospectively enrolled functional children who met the Rome IV standard, and divided them into conventional treatment group or FMT group with open choice. The efficacy of the two groups was collected and compared at different time points, and the flora of children in the FMT group before and after treatment was collected to monitor FMT-related adverse reactions

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

100

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

      • Wuhan, China, 430030
        • Recruiting
        • Tongji Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

1 year to 15 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • The diagnosis and classification of patients with FGIDs were in accordance with the ROME IV criteria for children

Exclusion Criteria:

  • organic gastrointestinal disease (as established by medical history, blood routine, biochemistry, c-reaction protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and fecal routine examinations.)
  • other chronic disease
  • growth failure

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: fecal microbiota transplantation
Fecal microbiota transplantation routes include the upper digestive tract, lower digestive tract, or oral fecal microbiota transplantation capsules
FMT is a technique in which intestinal microbiota are transferred from a healthy screened donor to a patient, with the goal being to introduce or restore a stable microbial community in the gut. FMT was given 1-3courses, 3-6 times per courses
Other Names:
  • fecal microbiota transplantation
Sham Comparator: Conventional drug intervention
Conventional drugs include: probiotics and omeprazole, and cyproheptadine and moxapride.
Conventional drugs include probiotics and omeprazole, and cyproheptadine and moxapride
Other Names:
  • cyproheptadine

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The efficacy of FMT in pediatric FGID
Time Frame: 4 weeks and 8 weeks
change in Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), validated scale of GI symptoms. The items are scored between 1 and 7, where 1 corresponds to "no discomfort at all" and 7 to "very severe discomfort" from the symptom.
4 weeks and 8 weeks
self-reported severity of pain
Time Frame: 4 weeks and 8 weeks
change in self-reported severity of pain is defined as at least two Faces Pain Score (Wong-Baker Pain Rating Scale;0-no hurt,10-hurts worst for pain)
4 weeks and 8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean number of bowel movements per week
Time Frame: 4 weeks and 8weeks
change in the mean number of bowel movements per week
4 weeks and 8weeks
Change in Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI)
Time Frame: 4 weeks and 8 weeks
PSQI assesses sleep quality in children. A higher score indicates poorer sleep quality. The PSQI will be assessed from baseline to 1 weeks and from baseline to 1 month. PSQI is scored from 0 to 21 points. The higher the score, the worse the sleep. PSQI≥8 was poor sleep quality, and 7 was the cut-off value
4 weeks and 8 weeks
Bristol stool scale
Time Frame: 4 weeks and 8 weeks
Change in stool consistency assessed using the Bristol Stool Form Scale. The Bristol stool classification divides stool into seven categories. Types 1 and 2 indicate constipation; Types 3 and 4 are ideal for bowel movements, while types 5 to 7 indicate possible diarrhea.
4 weeks and 8 weeks
Irritable bowel syndrome Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS)
Time Frame: 4 weeks and 8 weeks
IBS-SSS is a visual assessment scale (VAS) rating from 0 to 100, with total scores ranging from 0 to 500. Mild, moderate and severe cases are indicated by scores of 75 to 175, 175 to 300 and > 300.
4 weeks and 8 weeks
gut microbial
Time Frame: 4 weeks and/or 8 weeks
Fecal 16S RNA or macrogene sequencing was performed. Fecal samples were obtained from donor and recipient. The fecal samples and isolated microbiota samples were frozen immediately and underwent DNA extraction using standard methods.
4 weeks and/or 8 weeks
Adverse events
Time Frame: 2 weeks , 4 weeks and 8 weeks
All possible adverse events after FMT: fever, abdominal pain, infectious diseases and others
2 weeks , 4 weeks and 8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Investigators

  • Study Director: Zhihua Huang, Tongji Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 11, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 22, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

March 3, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

September 10, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 3, 2025

Last Verified

September 1, 2025

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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