While doctors claim that the death of Rick Slayman, who had a pig kidney transplant, was not due to xenotransplantation (see The first patient to receive a pig kidney died), Lisa Pisano, who became the second living patient to receive a pig kidney is again on dialysis (see Pig kidney xenotransplantation: a unique combined procedure). The surgeons had to remove the organ. gradually failing » after just 47 days.
The hospital NYU Langone announced that his condition was stable following the procedure during which his organ was removed early last week.
A kidney biopsy revealed no signs of rejection but doctors observed ” significant lesions » due to insufficient blood circulation. New York University will continue the study of the explanted kidney to better understand “ how he reacted inside a living person “.
More than 100,000 people are waiting for a transplant in the United States, most in need of a kidney. “ Hoping to fill the organ shortage “, several biotechnology companies are genetically modifying pigs so that their organs ” look more like humans » and are less likely to be destroyed by their immune system.
THE ” official studies » on these organs should begin next year. In the meantime, different research teams have “ temporarily » transplanted pig kidneys and hearts into brain-dead people (see Xenograft: pig hearts transplanted into two brain-dead people). Pig hearts were also transplanted into two men. who had no other options », and who both died a few months later (see Pig heart transplant: death of the 2nd transplanted patient).
Sources: USA today (05/31/2024); Medical Xpress, Lauran Neergaard (05/31/2024) – Photo: iStock
