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Unprecedented procedure was performed on a brain-dead patient and showed initial organ function, including bile production by the liver. The case paves the way for xenotransplants but still requires further studies.
Chinese researchers performed for the first time the simultaneous transplant of two pig kidneys and a liver into the same person. The procedure was done on a 53-year-old brain-dead man, in an experiment that pushes the boundaries of xenotransplants and could change how medicine addresses the shortage of organs for donation.
The case draws attention not only for its novelty but also for the first signs of organ function after surgery. According to super.abril.com.br, the pig liver started producing bile and the kidneys showed improvement in markers related to renal function within the first few hours.
Even so, the study itself emphasizes that the advancement is far from indicating immediate use in living patients. The experiment lasted five days and showed both promising signs and indications of rejection, marking an important scientific step, but still surrounded by caution.
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What was done in the unprecedented procedure
The team from Guangxi Medical University transplanted, in a single surgery, two genetically modified pig kidneys and a liver into the same patient. This type of combination had never been recorded in xenotransplants, which until now usually involved only one organ at a time.
The case also makes history for another reason: a complete pig liver had never been transplanted before. The material was published in May in the journal Med and describes a scenario where the pig organs were kept under continuous monitoring to assess how the human body would react.
Patient was brain-dead and family authorized the test
The man had severe chronic kidney disease and suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. After the declaration of death, the human liver, which was still functioning well, was donated to another patient. With the family’s authorization, doctors artificially maintained the body’s function to conduct the test with the pig organs.
This stage is central to studies of this kind because it allows observation, under controlled conditions, of how the tissues react without exposing a living patient to immediate risk. Even so, it is a delicate procedure, aimed exclusively at research.
The initial signs were good, but rejection appeared later
According to the researchers, 19 hours after the surgery, the transplanted liver was already functioning and producing bile. The creatinine and urea levels, altered due to kidney disease, returned to normal, indicating that the transplanted kidneys were also responding well.
In the first 24 hours, no signs of rejection were observed. However, after 36 hours, indications of the problem appeared, including areas of necrosis and changes in the liver’s blood coagulation. Despite these signs, the organs continued to function until the experiment ended, five days later, at the family’s request.
Genetic modifications aim to reduce the risk of rejection
The pig used in the transplant underwent six genetic modifications: three pig genes were removed and three human genes were included. The strategy was adopted to reduce the chance of rejection and other complications that usually limit this type of procedure.
The analyses also showed a high concentration of S100A12+ immune cells, associated with inflammation. For the study’s authors, this finding may open the door to more targeted therapies in the future, with the potential to reduce rejection in new xenotransplants.
For now, the researchers’ message is one of progress, but also of caution. The experiment showed that the combination of pig organs can work at least for a short period, but many studies will still be needed before something like this can be applied to living patients. If you follow medical advancements, it’s worth keeping a close eye on this scientific race.
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