A man in the United States has lived for a record 271 days, approximately nine months, with a genetically modified pig kidney functioning in his body. Doctors at Mass General Brigham hospital performed the transplant, which served as a temporary solution while the patient awaited a human kidney. The procedure highlights progress in xenotransplantation, the use of organs from different species for transplants.
The recipient, Tim Andrews, described the transplant as a source of "hope" that allowed him to avoid months of dialysis. He expressed relief at the possibility of living without the dialysis machine and reclaiming his life. "Hope is the biggest thing, the chance to be free from the [dialysis] machine and live your life," Andrews stated.
Doctors and scientists are increasingly exploring xenotransplantation due to the critical shortage of human organs available for transplant. In the U.S., approximately 100,000 individuals are on the waiting list for a kidney, but only about 25,000 transplants are performed annually. For patients like Andrews, the wait for a human kidney could be extensive, with estimates suggesting it could take up to seven years to reach the top of the list. The average survival rate for individuals on dialysis is about five years.
While the pig kidney ultimately failed and was removed, necessitating a brief return to dialysis before a donor kidney was found, the procedure demonstrated the potential of using animal organs as a bridge to human transplants. The development offers a potential pathway for patients facing long waits and grim prognoses.