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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 7, 2014; 20(29): 9665-9674
Published online Aug 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i29.9665
Relationship between pouch microbiota and pouchitis following restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis
Imerio Angriman, Marco Scarpa, Ignazio Castagliuolo
Imerio Angriman, Department of Surgery, Gastroenterology and Oncology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Marco Scarpa, Surgical Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology (IOV-IRCCS), 35128 Padova, Italy
Ignazio Castagliuolo, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Author contributions: All of the authors were equally involved in data collection.
Correspondence to: Imerio Angriman, MD, Department of Surgery, Gastroenterology and Oncology, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy. imerio.angriman@unipd.it
Telephone: +39-49-8217897 Fax: +39-49-8212689
Received: September 29, 2013
Revised: April 6, 2014
Accepted: April 30, 2014
Published online: August 7, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: This is a systemic review assessing the relationship between the microbiota that inhabit the ileal-anal pouch following restorative proctocolectomy in ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis patients and the inflammatory response that can occur. A meta-analysis was not attempted in view of the highly heterogeneous microbiota composition and the different detection methods utilized. Although no specific bacterial species, genus, or family has as yet been identified as pathogenic, there is evidence that dysbiosis and reduced bacterial diversity of the microbiota found in ulcerative colitis patients who have undergone restorative proctocolectomy may, in genetically predisposed subjects, lead to aberrant mucosal immune regulation triggering an inflammatory process.