Boston – In a medical first,doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital have successfully transplanted a kidney from a genetically modified pig into a human patient,freeing the recipient from the need for dialysis. The landmark operation,announced Monday,offers new hope for the thousands of Americans awaiting kidney transplants.
Dr. Riella,a kidney specialist involved in the procedure,explained that adapting the patientS anti-rejection medication was key to overcoming initial concerns.While it’s too early to determine the long-term viability of the pig kidney, the organ provides a crucial respite from dialysis while the patient awaits a suitable human donor.This breakthrough builds upon previous research and a controlled study authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), following promising results from similar efforts, including a case led by the Andrews team in New Hampshire.The FDA granted Egenesis, the pig producer, permission to initiate the controlled study of kidney xenotransplantation based on these earlier experiences. Xenotransplantation-transplanting living cells, tissues or organs from one species to another-has long been considered a potential solution to the critical shortage of human organs available for transplant.
A live stream of DetikPagi coverage of the story is available here.
A related video report from Detik regarding the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority’s (BPOM) request for additional funding to prevent future acute kidney failure cases can be viewed here.
(juice/juice)