The University of Maryland Medical Center has successfully transplanted a pig heart into a living recipient, making the patient the second person in the world to receive a pig heart transplant.
The surgery took place on September 20, by the same team that performed the first pig heart transplant in 2022. This time, the recipient, Lawrence Faucette, 58, is breathing on his own with a heart that is functioning well without any support equipment.
According to a press release from the hospital, Faucette suffered from end-stage heart disease that made him ineligible for a traditional heart transplant. "My only hope left was a pig heart, also known as a xenotransplant," he said.
The procedure has been green-lighted under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) humanitarian program, which the agency says is a potential way for patients with serious illnesses to access investigational medical products and treatments outside of clinical trials.
The pig heart used came from a genetically modified pig. Scientists edited 10 genes, including three that were disabled, to remove alpha gal from pig blood cells. Alpha gal can cause severe reactions in the human immune system, leading to transplant rejection.
Faucette was also treated with antibodies to prevent rejection. In addition, the team closely monitored the patient for signs of abnormalities or related viruses. Donor pigs were closely screened for signs of viruses or pathogens.
"We have once again given a critically ill patient the chance to live longer," said Dr Bartley Griffith, the surgeon who led the operation. "We are extremely grateful to Mr Faucette for his courage and willingness to help advance knowledge in this area."
The hospital said Faucette had given his full consent to the experimental treatment and had been informed of all the risks. He had also undergone a full psychiatric evaluation and consulted with a medical ethicist.
Lawrence Faucette (left) and his wife (right) at the University of Maryland Medical Center before receiving a pig heart transplant. Photo: University of Maryland Medical Center
“We would love nothing more than to have more time together, to do simple things like sit on the porch and have coffee together,” said Ann Faucette, Mr. Faucette's wife.
There are currently no clinical trials using pig organs for transplant into living people. The first surgery was also performed by the University of Maryland Medical Center in January 2022. The patient, David Bennett, 57, died two months after the surgery.
Although there were no signs of rejection in the first weeks after surgery, an autopsy found he died of heart failure “due to a complex set of factors.” However, a study in the Lancet found evidence of a swine virus in the transplanted heart.
According to the federal government, there are more than 113,000 people on the organ transplant list, more than 3,300 of whom need heart transplants. The group Donate Life America says 17 people die every day while waiting for donated organs. Experts say xenotransplantation could be a potential option to address the organ shortage in the future.
Thuc Linh (According to CNN )
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