China Transplants 'Pig Kidney' into Human, Sparking Hope for Millions Awaiting Organ Transplants

Xi'an – A Chinese medical team from Xijing Hospital, affiliated with the Air Force Medical University, has successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig kidney into a 69-year-old female patient with end-stage renal failure. The transplanted kidney turned pink and began producing urine shortly after normal blood circulation was restored, marking a significant clinical milestone in cross-species organ transplantation.

The transplant surgery was performed on March 6, and the patient has remained stable since. The kidney is functioning well, with a maximum urine output of 5,468 milliliters within 24 hours on the sixth day after surgery. Additionally, her serum creatinine levels—a crucial biochemical indicator of kidney function—returned to normal by the third day.

The patient was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure eight years ago but was unable to find a compatible kidney donor. She required dialysis three times a week and suffered dialysis-related complications as her condition worsened.

China currently has approximately 130 million chronic kidney disease patients, with millions suffering from end-stage renal failure—a number that continues to rise annually.

The research team noted that the patient might face challenges in the coming days, including immune rejection, blood clotting issues, and infections caused by pathogens.

To date, there have been at least four reported cases of pig-to-human kidney transplants in living recipients, all conducted in the United States. The longest-surviving patient from a pig kidney transplant, performed last November, remains alive, while the fourth patient, who underwent surgery in January this year, has survived for over a month.

In 2024, Chinese scientists transplanted genetically modified pig kidneys into cynomolgus monkeys, with reports in December revealing that the kidneys functioned normally for over six months—meeting the benchmark for long-term survival.

In April 2024, researchers from Xijing Hospital performed the world's first genetically modified pig liver transplant on a brain-dead patient. The following month, a team from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University transplanted a genetically modified pig liver into a patient with advanced liver cancer. Experts suggest that animal-to-human organ transplantation could be a crucial solution to the ongoing organ shortage, offering new hope to countless patients in need.

Source:
WorldViewThaiNews