Pig Kidney Functions for 271 Days in Human Patient

Why it matters locally: California, a leading state in medical research and biotechnology, could see significant implications for organ transplant programs and research institutions if xenotransplantation advances become a viable clinical option.

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A pig kidney functioned for 271 days within a human patient before Boston doctors replaced it with a human kidney earlier this year. This transplanted human kidney has sustained the patient since its implantation, researchers announced Thursday. The medical team performed the initial pig kidney transplant, a procedure known as xenotransplantation. This marked an extended duration for an animal organ functioning inside a human body. Following the 271 days, physicians performed a subsequent procedure to implant a human kidney. Researchers detailed the patient's case and the timeline of the transplants. They highlighted the sustained function of the pig organ as a notable development in xenotransplantation research.