On March 16, Richard Slayman made medical history as the first person to receive a pig kidney transplant genetically modified. This incredible breakthrough occurred at Massachusetts General Hospital, where Slayman, a 62-year-old from Massachusetts on dialysis for end-stage kidney disease, underwent a four-hour surgery. Slayman's return home was described as one of the happiest moments of his life, freeing him from the burden of dialysis that had limited his quality of life for years.
There genetics plays a crucial role in this area, given that the shortage of donors humans has pushed doctors to look towards the use of porcine organs. In fact, in the last two years, two heart transplants have been performed from genetically modified pigs, but both patients died less than two months after the surgery, without ever having the chance to return home.
How is the man who received the pig kidney doing?
Slayman is doing well and his new kidney is working as it should, but there's still a long way to go. About a week after the operation, the medical team noticed signs of rejection, the phenomenon that occurs when the immune system attacks the organ perceived as foreign. Fortunately, timely intervention with steroids and immunosuppressive drugs resolved the situation.
The cellular rejection, the type of rejection that affected Slayman, can occur at any time after the transplant, requiring lifelong immunosuppressant medications. Despite his discharge, Slayman will undergo weekly visits that include blood and urine tests, as well as careful monitoring of his vital signs.
In addition to rejection, pig kidney transplant carries the risk of infections. Finding the right balance with immunosuppressants is essential; too low a dose can cause rejection, while an excessive dose can expose the patient to the risk of infections. These drugs can also cause side effects such as fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.
Slayman's treatment includes an experimental drug called tegoprubart, which blocks communication between two key immune cells, helping to suppress the immune response to the transplanted organ. If all goes well, the visits will become less frequent after a month.
Pig organ transplants could be a solution for patients who would otherwise spend years on dialysis. The hope is that the 69 genetic changes made to the pig will allow the new kidney to function longer, thus transforming the lives of many.
What do you think about the use of animal organs in human transplants? Do you think science should further explore this frontier?
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