2nd pig heart recipient gone six weeks after procedure
By Nidz Godino
"We mourn loss of Mr. Faucette, remarkable patient, scientist, Navy veteran, and family man who just wanted little more time to spend with his loving wife, sons, and family," surgeon Bartley Griffith, performed transplant said 58-year-old Lawrence Faucette with terminal heart disease who received world's second genetically-modified pig heart transplant has died nearly six weeks after procedure.
Faucette received organ on September 20 and passed away on October 30, University of Maryland Medical Center said in statement.
He had been deemed ineligible for human heart transplant because of his advanced medical conditions, including peripheral vascular disease. Though transplant initially worked well, it began showing signs of rejection in recent days.
Latest experimental procedure was part of growing field of research aimed at advancing cross-species transplants, or xenotransplants, involving animal organs genetically modified to become less likely to trigger rejection in humans.
It is hoped eventually they will help address human donor gap, with more than 100,000 people in America alone currently awaiting organ.
David Bennett Sr was first person to receive gene-edited pig heart transplant in January 2022, carried out by same medical team.
He passed away after two months with medical center ascribing his death to " multitude of factors including his poor state of health" prior to operation, though it was also later found organ was infected with virus.
Muhammad Mohiuddin, cardiac xenotransplantation program director, praised Faucette's contribution to science, adding "we intend to conduct extensive analysis to identify factors can be prevented in future transplants."
Over past two years, doctors have transplanted kidneys from genetically modified pigs into brain-dead patients.
NYU Langone Hospital Transplant Institute in New York announced in September pig kidney transplanted into brain-dead patient had functioned for record-breaking 61 days.
Early xenotransplantation research focused on harvesting organs from primates for example, baboon heart was transplanted into newborn known as "Baby Fae" in 1984, but she survived only 20 days.
Current efforts focus on pigs, which are thought to be ideal donors for humans because of their organ size, their rapid growth and large litters, and the fact they are already raised as food source.
First person to receive heart transplant from genetically modified pig has died two months after medical milestone, hospital carried out surgery said.
Procedure raised hopes advances in cross-species organ donation could one day solve chronic shortage of human organs available for donation, and team behind operation say they are "optimistic" about its future success.
David Bennett, 57, had received his transplant on January 7 and passed away March 8, University of Maryland Medical System said in statement.
"There was no obvious cause identified at time of his death," hospital spokesman told media, adding physicians were carrying out review that would be published in scientific journal.
Muhammad Mohiuddin, director of university's cardiac xenotransplantation program, did however say in video statement Bennett was having "infectious episodes."
"We were having difficulty maintaining balance between his immunosuppression and controlling his infection," he said.
Bennett's condition began deteriorating several days ago. After it became clear he would not recover, he was given compassionate palliative care. He was able to communicate with his family during his final hours, hospital statement said.
Following surgery, transplanted heart had performed very well for several weeks without any signs of rejection, hospital added.
Bennett was able to spend time with family, participated in physical therapy, watched Super Bowl and spoke often about wanting to go home to see his dog Lucky.
"He proved to be brave and noble patient who fought all the way to end…we extend our sincerest condolences to his family," said Bartley Griffith, surgeon who led procedure.
Bennett came to hospital in eastern US state of Maryland in October 2021.
He was bed-ridden and placed on emergency life support machine. He had been deemed ineligible for human transplant decision that is often taken when recipient has very poor underlying health.
Mohiuddin said team had "gained invaluable insights" from experience, adding "we remain optimistic and plan on continuing our work in future clinical trials."
Reporting in US media also revealed Bennett was convicted of stabbing man several times in 1988, leaving victim paralyzed and wheelchair bound before he died in 2005.
Medical ethicists hold person's past criminal history should have no bearing on their future treatment.
About 110,000 Americans are currently waiting for organ transplant, and more than 6,000 patients die each year before getting one, according to official figures.
To meet demand, doctors have long been interested in so-called xenotransplantation, or cross-species organ donation, with experiments tracing back to 17th century.
Food and Drug Administration granted emergency authorization for surgery on New Year's Eve, as last ditch effort for patient who was unsuitable for conventional transplant.
"This was breakthrough surgery and brings us one step closer to solving organ shortage crisis, we are proceeding cautiously, but we are also optimistic that this first-in-the-world surgery will provide important new option for patients in the future " said Bartley Griffith, who surgically transplanted pig heart.
Bennett's donor pig belonged to herd had undergone genetic editing procedures.
Three genes would have led to rejection of pig organs by humans were "knocked out," as was gene that would have led to excessive growth of pig heart tissue.
Six human genes responsible for human acceptance were inserted into genome, for total of 10 unique gene edits.
Editing was performed by Virginia-based biotech firm Revivicor, which also supplied the pig used in breakthrough kidney transplant on a brain dead patient in New York in October.
But while that surgery was purely a proof-of-concept experiment, and kidney was connected outside patient's body, new surgery is intended to save person's life.
Donated organ was kept in organ-preservation machine ahead of surgery, and team also used experimental new drug made by Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals along with conventional anti-rejection drugs to suppress immune system.
About 110,000 Americans are currently waiting for an organ transplant, and more than 6,000 patients die each year before getting one, according to official figures.
To meet demand, doctors have long been interested in so-called xenotransplantation, or cross-species organ donation, with experiments tracing back to 17th century.
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