The organ was removed on April 4 at NYU Langone Health. Looney has since returned home to Gadsden, Alabama, and is back on dialysis. Despite the outcome, she expressed gratitude for being part of this groundbreaking xenotransplantation research, hoping her experience will help others battling kidney disease.
This experiment is part of a broader effort to address the U.S. organ shortage, where over 100,000 people await transplants. Scientists are genetically modifying pig organs to make them more compatible with humans. Looney’s case is notable because, unlike earlier xenotransplant patients who were critically ill, she was healthier, allowing for a longer observation period. Her 130-day milestone marks significant progress in the field.
The pig kidney functioned well until early April, when her immune system began rejecting it. Doctors suspect this was due to a combination of infection from earlier dialysis treatments and reduced immune-suppressing medication. Still, Dr. Robert Montgomery, who led the surgery, emphasized that Looney’s health had not worsened after the procedure and that her case offers crucial insights for future research.
While xenotransplantation is still experimental and faces hurdles like organ rejection, Looney’s experience adds valuable data. Researchers remain optimistic that continued trials will one day make pig organ transplants a reliable option for those in need.
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