Pig kidney removed from New Hampshire man after record-setting 271 days
The man who set the record for survival time living with a pig kidney transplant is in relatively robust health after 271 days with the animal organ. However, it’s now been removed and he has returned to dialysis, his name now re-added to the list of people in need of a human donor.
Doctors at Mass General Brigham confirmed the news after closely monitoring Tim Andrews of New Hampshire since they performed the experimental procedure back in January. Andrews was part of a small pilot study in which patients were given gene-edited pig kidneys to test the body’s reaction.
As part of the same study cohort, another patient underwent the procedure. It too was successful, and that person is still being monitored.
However, before these successes, the first person to ever receive a pig kidney at Mass General was Rick Slayman, who died two months later of cardiac arrest. In order to qualify for this new round, both Andrews and the other recipient had to undergo extensive health screenings.
In a statement announcing last week’s removal of the porcine organ, the hospital called Andrews a “selfless medical pioneer” who stands as an “inspiration to patients with kidney failure around the world.”
The hospital said they were forced to make the extraction after the organ began showing a significant decline in function. However, the results must be promising, as last month Mass General and eGenesis—a company working on scientific solutions to the global shortage of organs—received approval to conduct more transplants.
Genetically modified pig kidneys will be transplanted into people with late-stage failure as part of a clinical trial, set to begin soon. In a press release, the company mentioned Andrews’ then-seven-month survival as a data point inspiring more procedures.
The approval allows for nationwide transplants, with 30 people approved to receive the transplants, assuming they are deemed healthy enough for the experiment.
Andrews was in good health for much of the time he had the swine kidney inside him. Notably, he threw out the first pitch at a Red Sox game back in June.
It’s unclear when the 67-year-old will find a donor match.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.