Doctors remove pig kidney from an Alabama woman after a record 130 days
In a pioneering experiment in organ transplantation, Alabama resident Towana Looney lived with a genetically modified pig kidney for a record 130 days before her body began to reject it, leading to its removal and a return to dialysis. Looney expressed gratitude for having been part of this significant research at NYU Langone Health, despite the disappointing outcome. Her journey comes amid a critical shortage of human transplantable organs, with over 100,000 Americans on waiting lists, many needing kidneys.
Looney’s case is notable as she was the fifth U.S. recipient of an experimental pig organ transplant and the first to maintain function for such an extended period. Scientists are genetically altering pig organs to make them more compatible with the human body, and while previous recipients of pig organs had shorter-lived transplants, a New Hampshire man is currently faring well with a pig kidney.
Looney had been on dialysis since 2016 and was considered ineligible for a traditional human transplant. Upon receiving the pig kidney, she enjoyed a break from dialysis, but an infection and adjustments to her immune-suppressing medications may have contributed to the kidney’s eventual rejection. Experts like Dr. Robert Montgomery emphasized that Looney’s case provides essential insights as research progresses, indicating that future success in xenotransplantation will require careful, incremental learning rather than high-risk attempts.
Read the complete article here: https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/doctors-remove-pig-kidney-alabama-woman-record-130-days-rcna201155
