A genetically modified pig kidney has kept a 66-year-old American man alive for a record nine months, serving as a critical "bridge" until he received a human transplant in what marks a world first in xenotransplantation. Tim Andrews, who suffered from end-stage kidney disease caused by type 2 diabetes, faced a grim outlook with only a 9% chance of receiving a human kidney within five years and a more than 40% risk of dying or being removed from the waiting list. The pig kidney, sourced from an animal named Wilma, successfully maintained his health during the waiting period, demonstrating that genetically modified animal organs could be a viable stopgap solution for patients in the growing transplant shortage.
Organ kept Tim Andrews off dialysis and acted as a ‘bridge’ while he waited for a human transplant in the USA genetically modified kidney from a pig called Wilma has kept a 66-year-old man with kidney failure alive for a record nine months and successfully acted as a “bridge” to a human transplant in a world first.Tim Andrews was seriously ill with end-stage kidney disease caused by type 2 diabetes and had only a 9% chance of receiving a human kidney within five years, against a more than 40% risk of dying or being removed from the waiting list. Continue reading...
