An Alabama woman who made medical history by living with a pig kidney for a record 130 days has had the organ removed after her body started rejecting it. Towana Looney, from Gadsden, Alabama, is now back on dialysis following the disappointing outcome of the experimental xenotransplant.
Looney underwent the groundbreaking pig kidney transplant on November 25 and had been recovering well until early April when her body began rejecting the organ. Despite the setback, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be part of this groundbreaking research and believes that her experience can inspire others in their fight against kidney disease.
The use of pig organs for transplants is a promising solution to the severe shortage of human organs available for transplantation. With over 100,000 people on the U.S. transplant list, the need for viable organs is urgent, especially for those in need of a kidney.
Before Looney, only four other Americans had received experimental xenotransplants of gene-edited pig organs, with none lasting longer than two months. However, researchers are now attempting these transplants in less critically ill patients like Looney, with a New Hampshire man who received a pig kidney in January showing positive results.
Looney had been on dialysis since 2016 and was not eligible for a regular transplant due to her body’s rejection of human kidneys. The pig kidney initially functioned well, but her body eventually started rejecting it. Despite the setback, her surgeon, Dr. Robert Montgomery, believes that the experience offers valuable lessons for future clinical trials.
Rejection is a common threat after transplants, both with human and animal organs, as patients require immune-suppressing drugs to prevent rejection. Finding the right balance of immunosuppression is crucial to preserving the new organ while allowing the patient’s immune system to fight off infections.
While the use of pig organs for transplants shows promise, researchers are still exploring the best combination of drugs to prevent rejection in xenotransplant patients. Dr. Tatsuo Kawai of Massachusetts General Hospital emphasizes the need for more experience to determine the most effective immunosuppression protocols for xenotransplantation.
Despite the disappointing outcome for Looney, her journey with a pig kidney offers valuable insights for the future of xenotransplantation. Dr. Montgomery believes that success in this field will come from incremental progress and continuous learning from each transplant attempt. “5 Tips for Improving Your Mental Health”
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