Man Cures Auto-Brewery Syndrome with Faecal Transplant
Righting a man’s microbial wrongs stopped his body from producing intoxicating amounts of alcohol
Science Photo Library / Alamy
A man from Massachusetts experienced a bizarre condition where his gut produced excessive alcohol, leaving him intoxicated. After multiple doses of bacteria from a healthy person’s faeces, he successfully overcame this unusual disorder.
The man, a retired US Marine officer in his 60s, developed this issue after undergoing several courses of antibiotics for an inflamed prostate. Despite being in good health and consuming alcohol occasionally, he started feeling drunk, disoriented, and drowsy on a regular basis.
His symptoms were so severe that he struggled with daily tasks and had to install a breathalyser lock in his car to prevent driving under the influence. Despite seeking medical help, he was initially misdiagnosed until he was identified with auto-brewery syndrome, a rare condition where gut microbes generate high levels of alcohol.
Joining a patient support group led the man to explore faecal transplants as a potential solution for his condition. Through the efforts of physician Elizabeth Hohmann and gastroenterologist Bernd Schnabl, he underwent a faecal transplant using oral capsules created from a healthy donor’s faeces.
Before the transplant, a comprehensive study was conducted on individuals with auto-brewery syndrome to understand its root causes. The research revealed that specific gut bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, were responsible for alcohol production in the gut, leading to intoxication.
Following the faecal transplant, the man’s symptoms gradually subsided as the donor’s beneficial gut bacteria replaced the alcohol-producing microbes. This successful treatment not only restored his health but also allowed him to resume his normal activities.
Further investigations led by Hohmann and Schnabl are underway to determine the effectiveness of faecal transplants in oral capsule form for other individuals with auto-brewery syndrome.
Topics:
- gut health/
- gut microbiome
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