A groundbreaking procedure in the Chinese mainland is capturing the attention of medical experts and patients alike! A team from Xijing Hospital of the Air Force Medical University recently performed a historic gene-edited pig kidney transplant on a 69-year-old woman with end-stage kidney disease.
On March 6, after the surgery restored blood flow, the transplanted kidney turned pink and quickly began producing urine. By day three, the patient's serum creatinine levels had normalized, and on day six, her 24-hour urine output peaked at 5,468 milliliters—a promising sign of success.
Diagnosed with chronic renal failure eight years ago, the patient had long depended on dialysis three times a week, facing mounting complications. With nearly 130 million chronic kidney disease patients in the Chinese mainland, this breakthrough procedure could offer new treatment avenues and hope for many.
This pioneering transplant follows other major steps in xenotransplantation, including gene-edited pig liver procedures performed on both brain-dead patients and living patients with severe conditions. While challenges such as immune rejection, coagulation disorders, and pathogen-caused infections still remain, the early results shine a light on a future where organ shortages might be overcome.
Dou Kefeng, who led the team, stated, "Xenotransplantation could be a key way to solve the organ shortage problem and offer new hope for many patients." This innovative milestone could change the game for healthcare, bringing transformative potential to patients in need. ✨
Reference(s):
Pig-to-human kidney transplant in China offers hope to millions
cgtn.com
