A recent study to be presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2022 revealed unexpected changes in the electrical conduction system of the first genetically-modified porcine-to-human heart xenotransplant.
Xenotransplantation is the procedure of transplantation/implantation into a human of organs from non-human animal sources. The first pig-to-human heart xenograft was transplanted in January 2022 at the University of Maryland. The recipient survived for 61 days after receiving the xenograft. Research efforts have been underway for this xenotransplantation for over three decades.
Harvesting genetically-modified porcine hearts, the genes of which have been altered for safe transplantation into humans, would become a reality if successful. However, xenotransplantation of organs into a human carries several inherent challenges. With these transplant procedures, there is always the risk of graft rejection, infection, and abnormal heart rhythms.
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