Genetically Modified Pig Kidney Keeps Patient Alive for Record Nine Months
Quick Brief
In a world-first achievement, a genetically modified pig kidney sustained a 66-year-old patient with end-stage renal disease for nine months. The organ functioned as a vital bridge while the patient awaited a human organ transplant in the US. The breakthrough offers new hope for individuals facing severe shortages of human donor organs.
What Happened?
A 66-year-old American man named Tim Andrews, suffering from end-stage kidney failure due to type 2 diabetes, received a genetically modified kidney from a pig named Wilma. The organ successfully kept him off dialysis and functioned as a bridge for a record nine months before he received a human transplant.
Why It Matters
Patients suffering from end-stage kidney disease often face long waitlists with high risks of mortality. This successful xenotransplantation demonstrates that animal organs can safely and effectively bridge the gap for patients with low probabilities of receiving human donor kidneys in time.
Key Facts
- A genetically modified pig kidney kept a 66-year-old man alive for a record nine months.
- The patient, Tim Andrews, suffered from end-stage kidney disease caused by type 2 diabetes.
- Andrews had only a 9% chance of getting a human kidney within five years and faced a greater than 40% risk of dying or leaving the waitlist.
- The organ from a pig named Wilma served as a successful bridge to a human transplant in a world first.
- The procedure took place in the United States.
Compiled from 2 outlets
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