Man who received first pig kidney transplant dies aged 62
Recipient of first genetically modified pig kidney dies 2 months after procedure
The US hospital which carried out the operation said Rick Slayman’s death was not a result of the transplant.
Richard Slayman, 62, made history in March when he became the first living person to receive a genetically modified pig kidney. He died two months later, the hospital said on Saturday.
The transplant team at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston said in a statement it was deeply saddened by Slayman’s passing and offered condolences to his family.
They said they didn’t have any indication that he died as a result of the transplant.
“Mr. Slayman will forever be seen as a beacon of hope to countless transplant patients worldwide, and we are deeply grateful for his trust and willingness to advance the field of xenotransplantation,” the facility said, according to NBC Boston.
“We offer our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Slayman’s family and loved ones as they remember an extraordinary person whose generosity and kindness touched all who knew him,” it added.
Slayman had a kidney transplant at the hospital in 2018, but he had to go back on dialysis last year when it showed signs of failure. When dialysis complications arose requiring frequent procedures, his doctors suggested a pig kidney transplant.
In a statement, Slayman’s family thanked his doctors.
“Their enormous efforts leading the xenotransplant gave our family seven more weeks with Rick, and our memories made during that time will remain in our minds and hearts,” the statement said.
They said Slayman underwent the surgery in part to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive.
“Rick accomplished that goal and his hope and optimism will endure forever,” the statement said.
Xenotransplantation refers to healing human patients with cells, tissues or organs from animals. Such efforts long failed because the human immune system immediately destroyed foreign animal tissue. Recent attempts have involved pigs that have been modified so their organs are more human-like.
More than 100,000 people are on the national waiting list for a transplant, most of them kidney patients, and thousands die every year before their turn comes.
Are Animal Body Parts Safe for Humans?
The death of the first person to receive a pig kidney transplant raises questions about the safety of using animal organs in humans.
Xenotransplantation, the transplantation of organs or tissues from one species to another, has been a goal of medical research for decades. But it has been hampered by the problem of rejection, in which the recipient’s immune system attacks the foreign tissue.
In recent years, scientists have developed genetically modified pigs that are less likely to be rejected by the human immune system. These pigs have been used to grow organs that are more compatible with humans.
The first pig kidney transplant in a human was performed in March 2022. The recipient, a 57-year-old man with end-stage kidney disease, survived for two months after the transplant.
The man’s death raises questions about the safety of pig kidney transplants. It is not yet known whether the man’s death was caused by the transplant or by other factors.
More research is needed to determine the safety and efficacy of pig kidney transplants. If pig kidneys are found to be safe and effective, they could provide a new source of organs for transplant patients.
Key Points
- The first person to receive a pig kidney transplant has died two months after the procedure.
- The cause of death is not yet known.
- Xenotransplantation, the transplantation of organs or tissues from one species to another, is a promising new field of medical research.
- More research is needed to determine the safety and efficacy of pig kidney transplants.
Deepika 
Divya