U.S.: Grandmother Revitalized with Genetically Modified Pig Kidney
An Alabama grandmother has rediscovered her zest for life after receiving a genetically modified pig kidney, a medical breakthrough that expands the horizons of transplant possibilities.
A Historic Medical Feat
In a significant medical breakthrough, a 53-year-old woman from Alabama has become the third person to receive a genetically modified pig kidney.
The announcement of this historic procedure was made last Tuesday by a hospital in New York. Currently, she is the only living person to have undergone an animal organ transplant.
A Beacon of Hope Amidst the Organ Shortage Crisis
This pioneering surgery opens new avenues in addressing the organ shortage crisis. “It’s a blessing,” said Towana Looney, the recipient of the pig kidney. She had previously donated one of her kidneys to her mother in 1999. Unfortunately, her remaining kidney failed after she developed high blood pressure following a pregnancy-related condition.
Xenotransplantation: An Alternative Solution
Due to high levels of harmful antibodies that would have caused the rejection of a human kidney, transplantation wasn’t an option for Ms. Looney.
As a result, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted an exception for her to receive a genetically modified pig kidney designed to be accepted by her body.
From Previous Attempts to Mixed Results
Prior to Ms. Looney, two patients in New York and Boston received genetically modified pig kidneys, and two men in Maryland received pig hearts.
Despite initially promising function, these patients, already severely ill, only survived a few weeks or months following the procedures.
What is Xenotransplantation?
Xenotransplantation involves transplanting living animal cells, tissues, or organs into humans, or using human materials that have been in contact with animal cells. It is being developed to address the critical shortage of human organs for transplantation.
However, it raises significant public health concerns, including the risk of interspecies infections, which may remain dormant and cause diseases years later.