In a remarkable milestone for medical science, a series of xenotransplants have been performed, marking groundbreaking advancements in the field of organ transplantation. These procedures, involving the transplantation of organs derived from genetically modified pigs into humans, have been conducted successfully with two hearts and three kidneys. The significant aspect of this venture is the genetic makeup of these donor pigs, which had undergone a single gene edit, known as the alpha-gal knockout. This edit along with thymus transplants ensures better compatibility of pig’s organs with human physiology.
Among the cases, one patient’s story stands out. Following a kidney xenotransplant using a highly modified pig with ten gene edits, the patient has shown remarkable progress. The pig was engineered to express human-specific proteins for better interaction and integration of the transplanted organ. A week post-surgery, the patient’s kidney showed normal function, indicated by normal creatinine levels, and was performing all vital tasks required of a human kidney, potentially allowing the patient to return home shortly.
The patient’s medical journey has been fraught with obstacles. With a history of pregnancies and blood transfusions, her body developed antibodies, making her highly sensitized and rejecting multiple potential transplants. Her involvement in a sequence of studies ultimately led to this pioneering xenotransplant, albeit not without perseverance through numerous setbacks during her seven years on dialysis and five years on the transplant list.
In harnessing modern technologies, wearables are used to monitor her physiological parameters continuously, providing real-time data to evaluate the transplant’s success. The integration of AI in this monitoring system provides insights into the kidney’s function, potentially paving the way for longer-term studies to verify the viability of xenotransplants beyond a couple of months, promising hope for patients grappling with organ transplant challenges across the world.
