Beyond Human Limits: Successful Pig Kidney Transplant Marks a New Era in Medical History.

In a historic surgery, surgeons at New York University Langone Health successfully transplanted a modified pig kidney into a living person for the second time in history. The patient, Lisa Pisano, also received a heart pump and a porcine thymus gland to reduce the chances of rejection. Two weeks after the operation, Pisano reported feeling satisfactory, marking a significant milestone in medical history.

Pisano, who had been suffering from heart failure and end-stage kidney disease, faced challenges finding a suitable human kidney due to her body rejecting available donor organs. The surgery, which took place in mid-April, was crucial for her survival. The operation was carried out in two stages – first, surgeons implanted a heart pump, and once it started functioning normally, the kidney transplant was performed.

In addition to the kidney transplant, doctors implanted a pig’s thymus gland into Pisano for the first time. This innovative approach aims to help “train” her immune system and reduce the risk of organ rejection. The thymus gland plays a pivotal role in the maturation and differentiation of immune system T cells in mammals, and its transplantation could potentially transform Pisano’s immune system.

The first-ever transplant of a pig kidney into a living patient was performed in March at Massachusetts General Hospital, where a 62-year-old man successfully received the organ. Despite previous unsuccessful attempts with genetically modified pig hearts, doctors are optimistic about the outcomes of the recent surgeries. Pisano expressed hope that her experience could benefit others in need of organ transplants in the future, emphasizing the importance of pushing boundaries in medical innovation.

Nearly two weeks post-surgery, Pisano shows no signs of organ rejection