Posted on Leave a comment

Medical History Made: First-Ever Pig Kidney Transplant into Human

In a groundbreaking medical achievement, doctors have successfully performed the first-ever transplant of a genetically modified pig kidney into a living human. The historic surgery, conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital, marks a significant leap forward in the field of transplantation and offers hope to thousands awaiting life-saving organ donations.

The recipient, Rick Slayman, a 62-year-old manager with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, underwent the four-hour surgery on Saturday. Slayman, who had been battling end-stage kidney disease, is reported to be recovering well and is expected to be discharged from the hospital soon.

The transplant hailed as a milestone by medical experts, utilized a pig kidney that had been genetically modified to be more compatible with human recipients. Dr. Tatsuo Kawai, the surgeon who performed the operation, described the moment the pig organ was connected to Slayman’s blood vessels, stating that it immediately began functioning, producing urine, and turning pink, prompting applause from the surgical team.

This breakthrough comes after decades of research and collaboration, with scientists working tirelessly to overcome the challenges of xenotransplantation – the transplantation of animal organs into humans. Previous attempts at pig organ transplants had faced significant hurdles, including rejection by the human immune system. However, advancements in genetic engineering, the development of specialized antibodies, and rigorous testing in animal models have paved the way for this successful procedure.

Dr. Leonardo Riella, medical director of kidney transplantation at Mass General, expressed hope that pig organ transplants could eventually render dialysis obsolete, offering a more permanent solution to patients like Slayman who are in desperate need of organ replacements.

The success of this procedure opens new possibilities for addressing the critical shortage of organ donors worldwide. Dr. Michael Curtis, CEO of eGenesis, the company behind the genetic modification of the pig kidney, hailed the patient’s courage and generosity as pivotal in enabling this breakthrough in science and transplant medicine.

As medical researchers continue to refine and expand upon these advancements, the hope is that more lives can be saved, and the vision of a future where no patient dies waiting for an organ becomes a reality.

Posted on

Revolutionary Advancement: Cutting-Edge Procedure Enables Heart Repairs to Adapt and Grow with Children, According to New Study Findings

In a medical breakthrough, a groundbreaking procedure has been successfully utilized to repair children’s hearts, allowing the organs to grow with the child’s development. The pioneering surgery was first performed on Owen Monroe, who, at just 18 days old, became the world’s first recipient of a partial heart transplant in 2022. The remarkable success of this procedure has now been documented in a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Owen’s heart, initially the size of a strawberry at the time of the groundbreaking surgery, has demonstrated unprecedented growth. At 20 months of age, his heart is now comparable in size to an apricot, showcasing the potential of this innovative approach to heart repair. Unlike traditional procedures that may require additional risky surgeries as the child grows, the tissue used in Owen’s heart repair has adapted and grown alongside him.

The medical community has long sought the ability to cultivate heart valves through tissue engineering, and while successful in animals, translating this achievement to humans has proven elusive. Dr. Kathleen Fenton, chief of the Advanced Technologies and Surgery Branch of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, lauded the recent study as a “huge advance” and emphasized the need for long-term research to fully understand the implications.

Since Owen’s groundbreaking surgery, 12 additional partial heart transplants have been performed in children, with nine carried out at Duke Health, the institution responsible for developing the innovative operation. This technique has also enabled “domino transplants” and split-root transplants, allowing a single donor heart to save the lives of two critically ill infants.

Dr. Joseph Turek, chief of pediatric heart surgery at Duke Health and the lead author of the study, believes that this procedure could potentially benefit hundreds of children annually in the United States. He highlights the possibility of utilizing donor parts that would otherwise be deemed unusable, significantly expanding the pool of available options for pediatric heart transplants.

Owen’s case involved a rare birth defect called truncus arteriosis, affecting approximately 250 babies born in the U.S. each year. The innovative procedure presented an alternative to a full heart transplant, replacing only the defective parts of Owen’s heart with living vessels and valves from a recently deceased donor.

Owen’s parents, Nick and Tayler Monroe, faced a difficult decision but ultimately chose the groundbreaking partial transplant, offering their son a lifeline for survival. Today, Owen is a thriving toddler, meeting developmental milestones with no further need for open-heart surgeries. The Monroes express gratitude for being part of this medical breakthrough, paving the way for improved treatments for children with congenital heart disease.

Posted on

Immunosuppressive Drugs Linked to COVID-19 Hospitalization in Organ Transplant Recipients

In a recent cohort study involving 60,456 solid organ transplant recipients, researchers have identified a potential association between certain immunosuppressive drugs and an increased risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization. The study, conducted using the French National Health Data System, aimed to explore the factors influencing the severity of COVID-19 in this vulnerable population.

Key Findings:

  • Mycophenolic Acid and Steroids: The study revealed that mycophenolic acid and steroids were associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalization, with a relative risk increase ranging from 29% to 72%. These drugs, commonly used to prevent graft rejection, showed a dose-related association with hospitalization.
  • Tacrolimus and Cyclosporine: In contrast, tacrolimus and cyclosporine, particularly in liver and heart transplant patients, were associated with a decreased risk of hospitalization. Liver transplant patients on tacrolimus showed a 23% decreased risk, while heart transplant patients on cyclosporine had a 33% decreased risk.

Organ-Specific Associations:

  • Kidney Transplants: Kidney transplant recipients using steroids and mycophenolic acid had a higher risk of hospitalization. Age, social deprivation index, obesity, and diabetes were also identified as risk factors.
  • Liver Transplants: Tacrolimus was linked to a reduced risk, while steroids and mycophenolic acid were associated with an increased risk of hospitalization. Age, hypertension, diabetes, and dialysis were identified as additional risk factors.
  • Heart Transplants: Cyclosporine was associated with a decreased risk, while steroids, mycophenolic acid, sirolimus, and everolimus were linked to an increased risk of hospitalization. Obesity, diabetes, and dialysis were identified as additional risk factors.
  • Lung Transplants: Steroids were the only factor associated with a high risk of COVID-19 hospitalization in lung transplant recipients.

Implications: These findings highlight the complex interplay between immunosuppressive therapies and COVID-19 outcomes in organ transplant recipients. The study suggests that tailoring immunosuppressive drug regimens based on the type of transplant and individual patient factors could be crucial in managing the risk of severe COVID-19.

Conclusion: The study urges healthcare professionals to consider these results in the treatment of solid organ transplant recipients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Adjusting medication doses or modifying regimens based on individual patient profiles may contribute to better outcomes. The findings could also guide public health decisions for this population during future epidemics. However, the researchers emphasize the need for further studies to strengthen and consolidate these initial findings.

Credit: Epiphane Kolla, JAMA Network Open

Posted on Leave a comment

Transplant Breakthrough Offers Hope to Patients: ‘Teaching’ the Body to Accept New Organs

In a groundbreaking development, a recent study suggests that a novel transplant therapy could revolutionize organ transplantation by potentially eliminating the need for lifelong anti-rejection drugs. Scientists have unveiled an innovative technique that involves transplant patients receiving a pioneering therapy made from specific cells closely related to the immune system’s functioning.

The key to this promising breakthrough lies in patients receiving both the organ and cells from the same donor. Researchers have observed that this approach significantly reduces the likelihood of the immune system rejecting the newly transplanted organ, thereby offering hope to countless patients currently dependent on immunosuppressive medications.

This groundbreaking procedure is known as “donor-derived regulatory dendritic cells infusion” and represents a promising candidate for adoptive cell therapy, aimed at minimizing the use of traditional drugs while inducing tolerance in solid organ transplantation. Dendritic cells, known for their pivotal role in the immune system, assist in initiating responses to potential threats and aid in immune system tolerance of harmless components, preventing the immune system from attacking them.

Leveraging this knowledge, scientists have developed a donor-derived regulatory dendritic cell therapy primarily intended for liver transplant patients. The concept behind this therapy is to “teach” the recipient’s immune system to accept the new organ rather than rejecting it.

In an early-stage study, 13 patients were administered a single infusion of this revolutionary therapy just one week before their liver transplant. These individuals were then compared with a control group of 40 liver transplant patients who received conventional care, including a regimen of anti-rejection (immunosuppressant) drugs.

Immunosuppressant drugs work by suppressing the body’s immune system, making them a necessity for organ transplant recipients to prevent the immune system from attacking the newly transplanted organ. However, these drugs are associated with their own set of complications, such as an elevated risk of infection, kidney problems, and heart toxicity.

Remarkably, the study revealed that there were no notable differences in organ rejection rates between the two groups. The cell therapy was found to be “well tolerated” by the transplant recipients during the year-long trial. This exciting development offers new hope, as it suggests that the new treatment could potentially reduce the reliance on immunosuppressive drugs.

The researchers, led by experts at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in the US, believe that “donor-derived regulatory dendritic cells infusion is a promising candidate for adoptive cell therapy for drug minimization and tolerance induction in solid organ transplantation.” While the research is still in its early stages, this promising breakthrough could herald a new era in organ transplantation.

Notably, this groundbreaking advancement comes on the heels of a remarkable case in the UK, where an eight-year-old girl, Aditi Shankar, is living a life free from immunosuppressant drugs following a kidney transplant. Her immune system was successfully “reprogrammed” after a stem cell transplant, enabling her body to accept a donor kidney as its own. This remarkable case illustrates the potential of innovative medical approaches to transform the lives of organ transplant recipients.