Pig Kidney Transplant
A 62-year-old man who received the first-ever pig kidney transplant passed away, but the hospital stated there was no indication his death was due to the transplant. The kidney was genetically edited for compatibility with humans. The man had previously received a human kidney transplant in 2018, which began to fail, leading to the pig kidney transplant.
Key Points
- First-ever pig kidney transplant recipient passes away
- No indication that the passing was due to the transplant
- Pig kidney genetically edited for human compatibility
- Recipient previously had a human kidney transplant
Pros
- Advancement in xenotransplantation
- Potential to provide hope for patients awaiting transplants
Cons
- Risk of organ rejection or failure
- Long-term effects of genetically-edited organs