Doctors have, for the first time, transplanted a genetically modified pig kidney into a living human patient. And the patient is recovering well after surgery.
Surgeons in a Massachusetts hospital transplanted a pig kidney into a 62-year-old patient on March 16.
As there’s a huge lack of human organs available for transplant surgery, doctors have now turned to help from scientists.
CNN reports that eGenesis, is a biotechnology company that’s developing human-compatible engineered organs. The company supplied the kidney for the patient. They said scientists have performed 69 edits to the pig DNA, to make it compatible with human beings.
Genetically engineered pigs now provide huge hope for patients who suffer from chronic kidney diseases.
The patient mentioned has a history of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
He had been on dialysis for seven years before undergoing a human kidney transplant in 2018.
As the transplanted human organ showed signs of failure after five years, he switched to restarting dialysis in 2023. This caused serious complications.
No human kidney was available for at least another six years.
What was the best option left for him? He can’t die.
“I saw it not only as a way to help me, but a way to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive,” the patient said in a statement.
“The patient would have had to wait five to six years for a human kidney. And he would not have been able to survive it,” said Dr. Winfred Williams, associate chief of the nephrology division at the hospital for The New York Times.
That begs a question. Will this technological advance help address many patients who are in need of a transplant?
Source: www.scientificamerican.com
Edit: Dear readers, we have an update on this story. The 62 year old patient Mr. Slayman has died owing to complications unrelated to the transplant according to the Massachusetts Hospital sources. Heartfelt condolences. Let’s pray his soul rests in peace. Thank you.
"சென்றிடுவீர் எட்டுத் திக்கும்" 