Richard Slayman, the first person to be transplanted with a genetically modified pig kidney, has died at the age of 62, almost two months after undergoing xenotransplantation, the use of cells, tissues or organs from animals to implant them in a human recipient. Massachusetts General Hospital and Salyman’s family announced the death this past Saturday, although the medical center claims to have no indication that it was due to the transplant.
The death has frustrated the forecasts of the medical team, which hoped that the xenotransplantation could work for two years. Slayman, born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, was the first living person to undergo the procedure, which has failed on other occasions because the human immune system destroys the foreign animal tissue. In fact, the technique was previously tested on two people with pig hearts and with a similar result.
David Bennett lived for two months with a genetically altered pig heart in his chest and died in March 2022. Lawrence Faucette, 58, died last November after receiving a transplant with similar characteristics in September. Both suffered from a terminal heart condition and put themselves in the hands of the University of Maryland Medical Center, in Baltimore
Slayman had received a human kidney six years ago, but it was rejected by his body and he had to undergo frequent dialysis. It was then that the patient accepted the proposal of receiving the organ from a genetically modified pig.
“I am excited to once again spend time with my family, friends and loved ones without the burden of dialysis that has affected my quality of life for many years. “Today is a new beginning not only for me, but also for them,” stated Slayman last Aprilafter receiving permission to follow the evolution at home and in reference to patients who depend on a transplant.
In a statement, Slayman’s family thanked the doctors for their work: “Their enormous efforts in leading the xenotransplant gave our family seven more weeks with Rick. [Richard] and the memories created during that time will remain in our minds and hearts.”
They have also highlighted the value of Slayman in facing the novel therapeutic proposal to advance a solution for thousands of patients. “Rick achieved that goal and his hope and optimism will last forever,” says the text from his family.
As of December 31, 2023, the waiting list to receive an organ in Spain stood at 4,790 patients, 75 of them children. The figure is similar to that of 2022, which closed with 4,746 people on the waiting list.
Last year, 3,688 kidney transplants were performed in Spain (8% more than the previous year), 1,262 liver transplants (+9%), 479 lung transplants (+15%), 325 heart transplants (+5%), 100 pancreas transplants (+9%). %) and 7 intestinal (+75%).
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