Pig Kidney Removed from Patient After Unexpected Rejection
In a world-first medical procedure, a pig kidney removed from patient Towana Looney has captured global attention.
The genetically modified pig kidney, implanted in the Alabama woman on November 25, 2024, had functioned effectively for an unprecedented 130 days before her body began to reject it. This dramatic turn forced doctors at NYU Langone Hospital to surgically remove the organ in early April.
Despite the organ’s removal, experts are calling the transplant a major step forward in the future of xenotransplantation — the process of using animal organs in human bodies.
Why the Pig Kidney Was Removed from Patient Towana Looney
The reason behind the pig kidney removed from patient Looney stems from a sudden drop in kidney function in April. Doctors linked the rejection to a lowered immune suppression regimen used to treat an unrelated infection. Unfortunately, this adjustment left her immune system strong enough to attack the foreign organ.
Dr. Robert Montgomery, head of NYU’s transplant institute, stated, “We’re still studying what exactly triggered the rejection after months of stable function.” The decision to remove the organ was mutual between Looney and her care team, to preserve her chances of receiving a future human kidney.
Pig Kidney Removed from Patient, But It Still Made History
Even though the pig kidney removed from patient Looney marked an end to this phase of treatment, the transplant itself was a record-breaking achievement. No previous patient with a pig kidney had survived beyond 60 days. Looney, however, lived for 130 days without needing dialysis—a life-changing period for someone who had been on dialysis for eight years.
She stated, “For the first time since 2016, I enjoyed time with friends and family without planning around dialysis treatments. This journey gave me hope and gave others hope too.”
What Happened After Pig Kidney Was Removed from Patient?
Following the April 4 removal of the pig kidney, Looney recovered quickly. She was discharged just five days after surgery and has since returned home to Alabama. Despite the pig kidney removed from patient, she remains on dialysis and is now back on the waiting list for a human donor kidney.
Doctors stressed that her health remains stable, and the experience has added valuable knowledge to future transplant efforts involving animal organs.
Pig Kidney Removed from Patient Shows Limits and Promise
The case of the pig kidney removed from patient has both highlighted the promise of using animal organs and revealed the limitations that scientists must overcome. Rejection remains a serious risk, especially when immune suppression must be reduced for other medical reasons.
Still, the pig kidney’s ability to filter blood and maintain normal function for over four months has been labeled a historic success. The transplant provided proof-of-concept that animal organs can work inside the human body longer than previously thought.
The Future After Pig Kidney Removed from Patient
Even after the pig kidney removed from patient, the door is far from closed on animal organ transplants.
Looney’s case offers hope for the thousands of patients waiting for kidney transplants who may never find a human donor. Genetically modifying pig organs may become a lifeline for many in the future.
Medical researchers are now analyzing Looney’s case to better understand immune responses and improve the safety of future transplants.
