This new medical milestone reinforces this line of treatment. Already tested with other organs, despite the fact that complications continue to arise for recipients. The patient died after this date.
A team of Chinese doctors has successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig liver into a living human patient. Marking the first reported case of an auxiliary liver xenotransplant (one performed between species).
As documented in the Journal of Hepatology, the patient survived for 171 days, demonstrating that a pig liver can perform essential functions in the human body. The study, however, also highlights the serious challenges that remain in this type of operation.
According to the World Health Organization, thousands of people die each year waiting for a liver transplant. In China alone, hundreds of thousands suffer from liver failure, although only about 6,000 receive a transplant. Scientists hope this practice can help bridge the gap and provide vital organs to those in need.
‘A crucial step forward,’ although challenges remain
The patient, a 71-year-old man with liver disease caused by hepatitis B and liver cancer, could not undergo conventional surgery or receive a human liver. His doctors implanted a liver from a modified Diannan pig. The pig’s liver had ten genetic changes, designed to reduce immune system rejection and make blood clotting safer.
For the first month, the transplant worked remarkably well. The liver produced bile and proteins important for blood clotting with no signs of immediate rejection.
Thirty-eight days later, however, the patient developed a serious condition called thrombotic microangiopathy. Linked to an immune reaction that damaged his blood vessels. Treatments helped manage the condition, but the patient subsequently suffered repeated internal bleeding and died on day 171.
“This case demonstrates that a genetically modified pig liver can function in humans for an extended period,” explains lead researcher Beicheng Sun. “It’s a crucial step forward, demonstrating both the promise and the remaining obstacles. Particularly regarding clotting dysfunction and immunological complications, that must be overcome.”
With information from Euronews.com
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