A hospital in Massachusetts has confirmed that the first man to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant has died, two months after the operation.
62-year-old Richard “Rick” Slayman was suffering from end-stage kidney disease before undergoing the transplant in March.
Although transplants of other organs from genetically modified pigs have failed in the past, the operation on Mr Slayman was hailed as a historic milestone. His doctors confirmed that he no longer needed dialysis after the new organ was said to be functioning well.
However, Mr Slayman had also been suffering from Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. In 2018, he received a human kidney transplant, but it began to fail after five years.
Massachusetts General Hospital said on Sunday that there was no indication that his death was a result of the transplant.
Nonetheless, it offered condolences to his family and said it was “deeply saddened” by his sudden death. Mr Slayman’s relatives described him as a kind-hearted man with a quick-witted sense of humour who was fiercely dedicated to his family, friends, and co-workers.
They added that his story was an inspiration to many and that his hope and optimism would endure forever.
While Mr Slayman received the first pig kidney to be transplanted into a human, it is not the first pig organ to be used in a transplant procedure.
Two other patients have received pig heart transplants, but those procedures were unsuccessful as the recipients died a few weeks later.
In one case, there were signs the patient’s immune system had rejected the organ, which is a common risk in transplants.
