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Review
. 2016 Feb;11(1):19-28.
doi: 10.1007/s11899-016-0302-9.

Microbiota Manipulation With Prebiotics and Probiotics in Patients Undergoing Stem Cell Transplantation

Tessa M Andermann  1 , Andrew Rezvani  2 , Ami S Bhatt  3   4   5
Affiliations
Review

Microbiota Manipulation With Prebiotics and Probiotics in Patients Undergoing Stem Cell Transplantation

Tessa M Andermann et al. Curr Hematol Malig Rep. 2016 Feb.

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a potentially life-saving therapy that often comes at the cost of complications such as graft-versus-host disease and post-transplant infections. With improved technology to understand the ecosystem of microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi, and microeukaryotes) that make up the gut microbiota, there is increasing evidence of the microbiota's contribution to the development of post-transplant complications. Antibiotics have traditionally been the mainstay of microbiota-altering therapies available to physicians. Recently, interest is increasing in the use of prebiotics and probiotics to support the development and sustainability of a healthier microbiota. In this review, we will describe the evidence for the use of prebiotics and probiotics in combating microbiota dysbiosis and explore the ways in which they may be used in future research to potentially improve clinical outcomes and decrease rates of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and post-transplant infection.

Keywords: Graft-versus-host disease; Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Post-transplant infection.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Effects of prebiotics, probiotics, and antibiotics on the microbiota in stem cell transplant patients. Diet and antibiotics interact with host factors including the patient’s underlying malignancy, prior chemotherapy, and conditioning regimens to affect the composition of the microbiota. Antibiotics in this model can lead to a decrease in microbiota diversity and result in the development of dysbiosis, diarrhea, GVHD, and infection. The microbiota can be returned to a more symbiotic state representative of a prior healthier state of homeostasis with the use of prebiotics and probiotics that improve microbiota diversity
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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