Gadsden Woman Receives Pioneering Pig Kidney Transplant
Gadsden, Alabama – After years of struggling with kidney disease, Towana Looney, 53, became the first person to receive a kidney transplant from a genetically modified pig. This groundbreaking surgery is part of an experimental procedure that aims to address the shortage of human organs for transplantation.
Long Journey to Transplant
Towana, who has been on dialysis for eight years, faced a difficult situation when her search for a human donor match yielded no results over five years. A doctor, Jayme Locke, informed her about the new experimental transplant procedure and asked for her interest. Without hesitation, Towana responded, “Yes, ma’am.”
For Looney, this was about more than just personal health. She expressed a desire to help others, stating, “No.1, to help so many people.” With ongoing discussions with her doctor, she finally had the surgery on November 25 at NYU Langone Health in New York City.
Monitoring and Daily Checks
After successfully undergoing the transplant, Looney spent 10 days in the hospital and now lives in an apartment nearby. She visits the hospital daily for health checks and is monitored with various wearable sensors that track essential health metrics like blood pressure and heart rate. This close monitoring is crucial to catch any issues early on, preventing potential complications.
Transforming Organ Transplantation
Dr. Robert Montgomery, Looney’s transplant surgeon, shared an ambitious vision. He noted that this innovation could dramatically change the organ transplant landscape, potentially saving the lives of the over 5,600 Americans who die each year waiting for human organs. Montgomery himself received a heart transplant and understands the urgency of such procedures. He emphasized that Xenotransplantation could eliminate the gamble of waiting for a suitable human organ.
Unlike the previous four patients who had received pig organs and died within two months, Montgomery believes Looney has a better chance at long-term survival due to her overall health. He indicated that many complications in earlier cases were due to the patients’ existing health problems rather than the transplant itself.
Understanding Pig Kidney Functions
It remains uncertain how long a pig kidney can function effectively in a human body. The doctors know that the pig kidneys can produce urine and eliminate waste, but they need to determine if they can also handle other vital functions, such as regulating electrolytes and blood pressure. Montgomery stated, “We’ll have to see at the first four months, six months or a year if there’s anything a pig kidney can’t quite do that a human kidney is able to do.“
Ethical Considerations and Animal Use
While xenotransplantation raises ethical questions, experts note that pigs are already widely used for food in the U.S., where approximately 124 million pigs are slaughtered annually. Pigs were chosen for this research because their anatomy and size closely resemble that of humans. For the transplant, pigs are specifically raised, and modifications were made to their genes to increase compatibility with human bodies.
A Personal Journey
Towana Looney has faced significant health challenges throughout her life. In 1999, she donated a kidney to her mother, only to develop conditions that harmed her own kidneys later. After enduring years of dialysis and limiting her options for a human transplant, she saw this experimental procedure as a light of hope.
Looney expressed her eagerness to volunteer for the transplant, wanting to know she attempted to change her circumstances rather than just waiting for a solution. “If you don’t try, how will you know? How will we learn?” she stated passionately.
Looking Ahead
The results of Looney’s transplant may pave the way for future clinical trials involving xenotransplantation. Dr. Montgomery anticipates several trials could begin as early as 2025 with a plan for larger studies to follow. He asserts that within seven years, this life-saving procedure could become routine.
Towana Looney’s remarkable journey symbolizes hope for many who are in dire need of organ transplants, paving the way for a potential revolution in how organ transplants are approached in the future.
