Which Animal is Saving Human Lives?

In an article posted by Biotech Council, it states, "xenotransplantation means using living non-human animal cells, tissues or organs to treat humans." The article goes on to say we usually think of organ transplants such as hearts or kidneys." Do bear in mind that the terminology xenotransplantation also involves tissues such as bone marrow and external therapy of xenotransplantation which is used outside the body of the patient.

The history of xenotransplantation goes back to 1682. The first xenotransplantation was the implantation of a portion of a dog's skull into the skull of a Russian nobleman to repair damage. The graft was successful but it was later removed after a threat of excommunication of the nobleman was made by the Russian church.

Over the centuries many other efforts and attempts were made that contributed to the progress of xenotransplantation which failed as a result of incompatibility of tissues or tissue rejection. Some success came in 1963 when Dr. Keith Reemtsma (1925-2000) Heart Transplant Surgeon and pioneering giant in xenotransplantation used chimpanzee kidneys into thirteen patients. One patient lived for nine months after the surgery, electrolyte imbalance was the eventual cause of death. There was no sign of rejection in this patient according to the autopsy results.

On January 3, 1964, a 68 year old patient named Boyd Rush, with a heart condition was admitted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center. No human heart was available. So, Dr. James Hardy, Heart Transplant Pioneer, used the heart of a chimpanzee named Bino to implant in the patient. Rush died 90 minutes after the surgery.

In 1984 Baby Fae a new born infant received a baboon heart. She survived for twenty days.

In 1992 Dr. Czaplicki attempted the transplantation of a pig's heart to a patient. The patient died 24 hours later.

However, regardless of the unsuccessful attempt of using a pig's heart in a human.

"Pigs are saving human lives"

How are they doing this?

Heart valves from pigs are used to replace defective heart valves in people. To prevent rejection of the valves they are stripped of their tissue before they are transplanted in the patient.

Pig skin is commonly used for patients with severe burns who needs skin grafts.

Pig skin is also used to aid in the healing of skin ulcers in humans.

The pig is a source of over 40 drugs and other pharmaceutical products used in healthcare. Such as medications for asthma and bee stings.

The successful use of the pig in medical care is due to the following.

The heart of the pig is similar to humans in size, shape and structure.

Pig skin is commonly used for temporary skin graft in humans because it is similar to the human skin and has a greater affinity with human skin.

Researchers have also found out that the organs of the pig work in a similar way as the organs of humans.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for the regulations of xenotransplantation. Clinical trails that involve xenotransplantation have been approved by the FDA.

The two major problems of xenotransplantation are rejection of the organ or tissue and the introduction of virus to the human body from the animals organ or tissue

There is ongoing fascination for researchers over the centuries regarding xenotransplantation.

Researchers have continued their quest in this field to save lives and yes:

Pigs are saving human lives!

The Bioethics Council

Michigan.Gov/MDA

Burncarerehab.com

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