After a record-breaking 130 days, doctor successfully removes pig kidneys from Alabama woman

An Alabama woman lived with pig kidneys for a record-breaking 130 days before her body began rejecting them, leading to their removal and a return to dialysis, doctors announced Friday.

Following her removal surgery on April 4 at Nyu Langone Health, Towana Rooney steadily recovered and went back to her home in Gadsden, Alabama. Rooney expressed gratitude to the doctors for allowing her to take part in the study.

Rooney stated, “While the outcome was not what anyone would have hoped for, I have learned a great deal from having pig kidneys for 130 days. I believe this experience can benefit and inspire many others on their journey to overcome kidney disease.”

Scientists are working on genetically modifying pigs so that their organs are more similar to human organs, addressing the significant shortage of transplantable human organs. With over 100,000 people on the US transplant list, most in need of kidneys, and thousands waiting and dying, this advancement is crucial.

Prior to Rooney’s transplant, only four other Americans had received experimental xenotransplants using gene-edited pig organs – two hearts and two kidneys – all of which failed within two months. The recipients, who were severely ill before the surgery, did not survive.

Currently, researchers are attempting to transplant these pig organs into patients with less severe illnesses, like Rooney. A man from New Hampshire who received pig kidneys in January is doing well, and a comprehensive study of pig kidney transplants is scheduled for this summer. A Chinese researcher also reported successful renal xenotransplants recently.

Since 2016, Rooney has been on dialysis and was ineligible for conventional transplants due to her body’s predisposition to reject human kidneys. Turning to pig kidneys proved successful for her, allowing her to extend her life significantly. She referred to herself as a “superwoman” and lived longer than anyone with gene-edited pig organs before her body began rejecting them in early April.

Dr. Robert Montgomery, a pioneer of Nyu XenoTransplant and Rooney’s surgeon, stated that the rejection is being investigated. He emphasized that removing the pig kidneys was a safer option than continuing with high-risk rejection drugs.

Montgomery explained, “We took a safe approach. Rooney is not worse off post-XenoTransplant. In fact, she feels better as she had a four-month break from dialysis.”

Prior to the rejection, Rooney experienced infections associated with dialysis, while her immunosuppressive anti-rejection drugs were slightly reduced, allowing her immune system to revitalize after the transplant. These factors likely contributed to the rejection of the new kidneys.

Rejection is a common concern following organ transplants, which can result in the loss of new organs. Doctors must strike a delicate balance between suppressing the patient’s immune system, fighting infections, and maintaining the new organs.

This challenge is even greater with xenotransplants, where patients still require immunosuppressive medications despite modifications made to pig organs to prevent immediate rejection. Researchers are exploring different combinations of medications to find the most effective approach.

Montgomery believes Rooney’s experience will yield valuable insights for future clinical trials. Achieving successful xenotransplants would be a significant achievement with benefits for patients in need of organ transplants.