Background Malnutrition has a prevalence of up to 70% in patients with Crohn’s disease and prolongs hospitalization, decreases quality of life, and increases surgical and mortality rates. Weight loss of 5% within 6 months or 10% outside of 6 months, low BMI, and decreased muscle mass are the three main diagnostic criteria for malnutrition in GLIM criteria. We observed the rate of improvement in the nutritional status of patients with Crohn’s disease by washed microbiota transplantation (WMT).

Methods This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective study of Crohn’s disease undergoing WMT. Skeletal muscle index (SMI) < 52.4 cm²/m² in men and < 38.5 cm²/m² in women were defined as sarcopenia. The primary outcome of this study was the change in the SMI of patients three months post-WMT. The secondary outcome was the changes of BMI and laboratory indicators such as albumin, prealbumin, and hemoglobin, which reflect nutritional status, in patients after WMT.

Results A total of 40 patients were included in this study for analysis and the prevalence of sarcopenia was 72.5% (29/40). The SMI of the patients was significantly elevated after WMT (P < 0.000, IDDF2024-ABS-0246 Figure 1), and 85.0% (34/40) of the patients showed an increase in SMI level. The cure rate of sarcopenia was 17.2% (5/29). Body mass index (BMI), albumin, prealbumin and hemoglobin levels were significantly elevated in patients after WMT (P = 0.007, 0.000, 0.001 and 0.000, respectively, IDDF2024-ABS-0246 Figure 1).

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Abstract IDDF2024-ABS-0246 Figure 1

Conclusions WMT is an effective treatment to improve the nutritional status of patients with Crohn’s disease.