Prevention of Pouchitis with Probiotics

The probiotic preparation VSL#3 has been shown to maintain remission of pouchitis after ileoanal pull-through for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The same research group that reported VSL#3's efficacy undertook this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to determine whether VSL#3 could prevent pouchitis during the first year after ileostomy closure. The authors randomized 40 consecutive patients who underwent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis to receive 1 packet of VSL#3 (containing 900 billion bacteria) or placebo daily, beginning immediately after ileostomy closure. Assessments were made clinically, endoscopically, and histologically after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The IBD Questionnaire was used to assess…