A significant gap exists between the demand and supply of organs for transplant, including kidneys. Xenotransplantation represents a potential alternative to overcome this shortage. Recently, surgeons from New York successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig’s kidney into a brain-dead person and made it work for over a month. The kidney produced urine immediately.
Similarly, surgeons from the University of Alabama transplanted a genetically modified pig’s kidneys in a brain-dead person with chronic kidney disease . Following the transplant, on day seven, serum creatinine levels were reduced from 3.9 mg/dL to 0.9 mg/dL, and creatinine clearance was improved from 0 mL/min to 200 mL/min. These reports show that pig kidneys can produce functions, including urine output and creatinine clearance in brain-dead humans. Future research in living recipients is necessary to determine…
