A groundbreaking medical achievement in China has captured global attention. A team from Xijing Hospital of the Air Force Medical University successfully performed a gene-edited pig kidney transplant on a 69-year-old woman suffering from end-stage kidney disease. The promising early results, marked by a pink, urine-producing kidney and normalized serum creatinine levels, signal a major milestone in xenotransplantation.
Diagnosed with chronic renal failure eight years ago and reliant on dialysis, the patient had encountered severe complications and had no suitable donor. Her case illustrates the urgent need for innovative solutions as China faces approximately 130 million chronic kidney disease patients and a continuously rising number of end-stage cases.
During the operation on March 6, blood flow was restored to the transplanted kidney, and by the third day, key kidney function indicators showed remarkable improvement. With a record 24-hour urine output peaking at 5,468 milliliters, the initial success of the transplant offers new hope for patients worldwide.
This advancement comes amid a series of pioneering efforts in cross-species organ transplantation. While the United States has reported at least four live pig-to-human kidney transplants, Chinese scientists have also achieved notable milestones, including gene-modified pig kidney transplants in macaques and pig liver transplants into both brain-dead and living patients.
Leading the team, Dou Kefeng stated, "Xenotransplantation could be a key way to solve the organ shortage problem and offer new hope for many patients." This sentiment underscores the potential of such innovative procedures to address the global challenge of organ shortages.
Although the patient now shows stable kidney function, the road ahead involves careful monitoring for immune rejection, coagulation disorders, and potential infections. As researchers continue to refine these techniques, the success of this transplant may pave the way for more effective, life-saving treatments across the globe.
Reference(s):
Pig-to-human kidney transplant in China offers hope to millions
cgtn.com
