‘Unhealthy’ gut microbiome patterns are linked to a heightened risk of death after a solid organ transplant, finds research published online in the journal Gut.
While these particular microbial patterns are associated with deaths from any cause, they are specifically associated with deaths from cancer and infection, regardless of the organ—kidney, liver, heart, or lung—transplanted, the findings show.
This is an observational study, and as such, no definitive conclusions can be drawn about the causal roles of particular bacteria.
But conclude the researchers: “Our results support emerging evidence showing that gut dysbiosis is associated with long-term survival, indicating that gut microbiome targeting therapies might improve patient outcomes, although causal links should be identified first.”
View: https://gut.bmj.com/content/early/2024/06/04/gutjnl-2023-331441