Only survive two months after an organ transplant?
On May 11, Beijing time, according to reliable news, the world's first pig kidney transplant patient, Mr. Richard Sleman, unfortunately passed away at the age of 62, which made many patients with expectations for organ transplantation unacceptable for a while. He received a transplant at Massachusetts General Hospital in March this year, which means that he only survived for two months after a kidney transplant.
Pig and human body organ structure
Professor Chen Zhonghua of the Organ Transplantation Institute of Tongji Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology revealed that Richard Sleman's sudden death of a heart attack on May 6 was not directly related to the pig kidney transplant he received. Although the initial expectation was that the patient would survive for at least two years, he was unable to overcome the torment of heart disease.
"Regrettably, despite his courageous efforts to overcome the multiple risks and difficulties of xenotransplantation, Mr. Sleman was unable to overcome the challenge of heart disease. Sleman has long suffered from uremia, has had a previous human kidney transplant, and suffers from complex conditions such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
So far, the exact cause of Richard Sleman's death has not been disclosed in detail. The transplant team at Massachusetts General Hospital noted that there is currently no evidence that the transplant was the cause of his death.
Zhu Tongyu, another organ transplant expert, said: "To accurately understand the cause of Mr. Richard Sleman's death, we also need to conduct a detailed pathological analysis. However, it is worth pointing out that there have been two previous human pig heart transplants, and the patients did not survive for several months after the surgery, which undoubtedly adds a considerable challenge to the field of xenotransplantation. ”
Xenotransplantation has a long way to go
Sleman's pig kidney transplant has attracted widespread attention, marking the first attempt at a pig kidney transplant in the world. The surgery had previously been successfully performed in the same hospital for a patient with end-stage renal disease, and the patient's recovery after surgery once gave a glimmer of hope to patients with kidney failure.
With more than 100,000 people waiting for organ transplantation worldwide, xenotransplantation has always been a hot topic for scientists. Due to the similar physiological characteristics of pig organs to humans, they are considered an ideal donor choice. However, xenotransplantation still faces great challenges and risks.
In this operation, the research team performed 69 genetic edits on pig kidneys to enhance their compatibility with humans and prevent infection with potential viruses, a cutting-edge medical advancement that has brought new hope to millions of patients suffering from kidney failure.
Earlier, Professor Huang Jiefu reminded us of the threat of delayed rejection in the weeks, months and years after transplantation, and that the mechanism of such immune rejection is still poorly understood. In particular, he emphasized that genetic modification is not an overnight solution, and that the removal of specific genes alone does not guarantee complete resistance to rejection. To ensure the success of the transplant, it is also necessary to combine a well-developed immunotherapy regimen.
Professor Huang also pointed out the huge hidden dangers in biosecurity: "Xenotransplantation must also face the risk of cross-species viral infection. If we blindly advance clinical trials for xenotransplantation without adequate preparation, it could have catastrophic consequences – unknown viruses and pathogens in animals could spread among humans. ”
While the situation remains uncertain, scientists remain convinced that success is only a matter of time. We need to continue to overcome the technical challenges and associated risks in order to finally usher in a good medical environment where there is no long waiting time for organs. While pursuing medical breakthroughs, we should pay more attention to the robustness and safety of every step to ensure the best interests of patients.