Gut microbiome in chronic rheumatic and inflammatory bowel diseases: Similarities and differences

Abstract

Introduction Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and chronic rheumatic diseases (CRDs) are systemic chronic disorders sharing common genetic, immune and environmental factors. About half of patients with IBD develop rheumatic ailments and microscopic intestinal inflammation is present in up to half of CRD patients. IBD and CRD patients also share a common therapeutic armamentarium. Disequilibrium in the complex realm of microbes (known as dysbiosis) that closely interact with the gut mucosal immune system has been associated with both IBD and CRD (spondyloarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis). Whether dysbiosis represents an epiphenomenon or a prodromal feature remains to be determined. Methods In an attempt to further investigate whether specific gut dysbiosis may be the missing link between IBD and CRD in patients developing both diseases, we performed here a systematic literature review focusing on studies looking at bacterial microbiota in CRD and/or IBD patients. Results We included 80 studies, with a total of 3799 IBD patients without arthritis, 1084 CRD patients without IBD, 132 IBD patients with arthropathy manifestations and 12 spondyloarthritis patients with IBD history. Overall, this systematic review indicates that an increase in Bifidobacterium, Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella and Proteus genera, as well as a decrease in Faecalibacterium, Roseburia genera and species belonging to Verrucomicrobia and Fusobacteria phyla are common features in IBD and CRD patients, whereas dozens of bacterial species are specific features of CRD and IBD. Conclusion Further work is needed to understand the functions of bacteria and of their metabolites but also to characterize fungi and viruses that are commonly found in these patients.

The Effectiveness of Multi-Session FMT Treatment in Active Ulcerative Colitis Patients: A Pilot Study

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New insights in Ulcerative Colitis Associated Gut Microbiota in South American Population: Akkermansia and Collinsella, two distinctive genera found in Argentine subjects

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“…2,20−24 The alterations of intestinal microbiota composition in RA have a considerable overlap with those in IBD, 25,26 among which some bacterial taxa, such as Pseudomonas, have showed consistent trends of changes. 27 Interestingly, a comparative study suggested that the gut microbial communities in RA and UC were most similar among immune-mediated in ammatory diseases, while the gut microbiota of CD was most different from other immune-mediated in ammatory diseases. 18 Taken together, these ndings might at least partially support our results.…”