Lisa Pisano, a 54-year-old woman from New Jersey, made headlines as the second person to receive a kidney transplanted from a genetically modified pig. She lived with the organ for 47 days before tragically passing away. Lisa was critically ill, suffering from both kidney failure and heart failure. She received the pig kidney on April 12, shortly after having a mechanical heart pump implanted.
Unfortunately, surgeons had to remove the kidney on May 29 due to damage caused by inadequate blood flow related to the heart pump. Despite resuming kidney dialysis after the removal of the organ, Lisa was eventually transitioned to hospice care.
Lisa’s case was significant as she became the first person with a heart pump to also undergo an organ transplant. This groundbreaking procedure shed light on the field of xenotransplantation, where organs from one species are transplanted into another. Dr. Robert Montgomery, the director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, emphasized Lisa’s contribution to medicine and the hope she brought to those suffering from end-stage kidney or heart failure.
Prior to Lisa, Richard Slayman, 62, was the first patient to receive a kidney from a genetically engineered pig in March at Mass General Brigham in Boston. Despite being discharged two weeks after the surgery, Richard, like Lisa, faced complex medical issues and passed away within two months.
While advancements in xenotransplantation have been made, these procedures remain experimental. Only patients who are not eligible for a human organ transplant and are at risk of dying without treatment are considered for animal organ transplants. The transplants of kidneys from genetically modified pigs this year were approved under the FDA’s compassionate use program for patients with life-threatening conditions.
Roni Caryn Rabin, a health reporter at The New York Times, focuses on maternal and child health, disparities in healthcare, and the impact of financial factors on medical practices. Her coverage sheds light on the complexities of modern medicine and the ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of medical science.
