Lisa Pisano, who made medical history by receiving a gene-edited pig kidney along with a mechanical heart pump, passed away on Sunday at NYU Langone Health, where she underwent the groundbreaking surgery.
Pisano underwent the transplant on April 12, but the kidney failed due to inadequate blood flow and was removed on May 29.
Her case marked the first reported instance of combining a mechanical heart pump with an organ transplant, and only the second known transplant of a gene-edited pig kidney into a human, accompanied by the pig’s thymus gland.
Dr. Robert Montgomery, director of NYU Langone Transplant Institute, praised Pisano for her bravery and selflessness, stating that her contributions to medicine and xenotransplantation were significant.
Pisano, speaking at a news conference after the procedure, expressed hope that her experience would benefit others, even if it didn’t succeed for her.
Montgomery emphasized Pisano’s impact on advancing medical possibilities, noting that her courage provided hope for those awaiting organ transplants.
Xenotransplantation, the use of organs from other species like pigs, offers a potential solution to the shortage of human donor organs, according to experts.
Pisano’s case was conducted under the FDA’s compassionate use policy, allowing access to experimental treatments for terminally ill patients.
Before her xenotransplant, Pisano faced heart failure and end-stage kidney disease, making her ineligible for a standard transplant. The genetically modified pig kidney she received was designed to evade rejection by her immune system.
Despite the kidney’s removal, Pisano’s legacy as a pioneer in medical research and her resilience in the face of severe health challenges continue to inspire.
(Source: CNN)
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/09/health/heart-pump-pig-kidney-transplant-death/index.html