Man who received experimental pig kidney transplant now has a human organ
CNN • • health
Key Points:
- Tim Andrews, one of the first recipients of a genetically modified pig kidney, has become the first to receive a human kidney after living 271 days with the pig organ, marking a significant milestone in xenotransplantation.
- Andrews’ pig kidney transplant helped him avoid dialysis for nine months, improving his quality of life despite eventual organ rejection, which led to its removal and his return to dialysis before receiving the human kidney.
- Xenotransplantation offers a potential solution to the severe shortage of human organ donors, especially for kidney failure patients, with experts viewing it as a bridge or alternative to dialysis that could extend and improve patients' lives.
- Research from Andrews’ case is helping refine immunosuppressant treatments to prevent rejection in future xenotrans
