Towana Looney of Alabama recently made history by becoming the longest living recipient of a pig organ transplant – a kidney that has been functioning well for 61 days. She is full of energy and leading a normal life, even outpacing her family members on long walks. This is a significant development in the field of animal-to-human transplants, as only four other Americans have received gene-edited pig organs and none lived more than two months.
Scientist are genetically altering pigs to make their organs more humanlike in order to address the severe shortage of transplantable human organs. More than 100,000 people are on the U.S. transplant list, mostly in need of kidneys, and many die while waiting for a transplant. The handful of hospitals conducting pig organ transplants share information in preparation for formal studies of xenotransplantation.
Looney’s kidney function is normal, and doctors are optimistic that she can return home to Alabama soon. She is serving as an ambassador to others considering pig organ transplants, providing support and sharing her experience. Her kidneys failed due to pregnancy complications after donating a kidney to her mother, leading her to seek out the pig experiment since she was unlikely to receive a human kidney due to high levels of antibodies.
There is no way to predict how long Looney’s new kidney will last, but she could receive dialysis if it fails. Her progress has been closely monitored and any signs of rejection have been successfully treated. This experience with Looney will inform future attempts at pig organ transplants and help others in need of transplants.
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