In a groundbreaking medical achievement, surgeons in Boston have successfully performed the world’s first pig’s kidney transplant in a human. The procedure, which involved transplanting a genetically modified pig kidney into a 62-year-old man, has shown promising results so far. The patient’s condition is improving, and the new kidney has started generating urine shortly after the surgery.
This innovative transplant offers hope to hundreds of thousands of patients who are suffering from kidney failure. The treatment may be particularly significant for Black patients, who have a higher incidence of end-stage kidney disease. Dr. Winfred Williams, the patient’s primary kidney doctor, believes that this new source of kidneys could address the inadequate access that minority patients often face when it comes to kidney transplants.
One of the most notable implications of this breakthrough is the potential end to kidney dialysis. Dr. Leonardo Riella, the medical director for kidney transplantation at Massachusetts General Hospital, believes that if genetically modified animal kidneys can be transplanted on a large scale, dialysis will become obsolete. Currently, over 800,000 Americans require dialysis for renal failure, and more than 100,000 people are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. However, with the shortage of available human organs, thousands of patients die each year while waiting for a transplant.
Xenotransplantation, which involves implanting an animal’s organ into a human, has long been considered a potential solution to address the organ shortage. However, the human immune system typically rejects foreign tissue, leading to potentially fatal consequences. Recent technological advancements in gene editing and cloning have brought xenotransplants closer to reality by allowing researchers to modify animal DNA to improve compatibility with humans.
In this case, the pig’s kidney used in the transplant was produced by eGenesis, a biotech company that eliminated three genes that could cause rejection. Additionally, seven human genes were introduced to enhance compatibility. The company also deactivated the retroviruses that pigs possess, which can infect humans. Similar successful experiments involving genetically engineered pig kidneys have been conducted at other medical institutions, including NYU Langone Health and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The patient who received the pig kidney, Richard Slayman, had been battling diabetes and high blood pressure for many years. After experiencing kidney failure and undergoing dialysis for seven years, Slayman received a human kidney transplant in 2018. However, the donated kidney failed within five years, leading to additional complications such as congestive heart failure. When Slayman resumed dialysis in 2023, he developed serious vascular complications. As his health deteriorated, he faced a long wait for another human kidney and was growing increasingly despondent.
When Slayman’s primary kidney doctor, Dr. Williams, suggested the possibility of a pig’s kidney transplant, Slayman initially had reservations but ultimately agreed to proceed. He saw it not only as an opportunity to improve his own health but also as a way to provide hope for thousands of others who are in need of a transplant to survive.
The success of this pig’s kidney transplant offers promising prospects for the future of organ transplantation. While further research and monitoring are necessary to ensure the long-term viability of these transplants, the ability to modify animal organs to be more compatible with humans brings us one step closer to addressing the organ shortage and saving countless lives.
This article was originally published in The New York Times and highlights the groundbreaking achievement of surgeons in Boston who performed the world’s first pig’s kidney transplant in a human. With the potential to revolutionize kidney transplantation and eliminate the need for dialysis, this breakthrough offers hope to patients suffering from kidney failure.