Reacción a "First pig-to-human liver transplant evaluated"

The study is very well designed and is an extraordinary contribution to the clinical development of xenotransplantation which, in recent years, has advanced dramatically thanks to the generation of transgenic pigs and tested in two different models: in brain-dead people and in patients with a therapeutic objective, usually in the context of compassionate use authorisations.

The main novelty is the use of a portion of liver from a pig with six genetic modifications to perform an auxiliary liver transplant. The person in whom the liver is implanted does not have liver failure, nor is he/she in need of a liver transplant, but with this model they are able to confirm several points. The first is that the graft is functioning properly. Secondly, that the vessels remain intact and that no thrombotic phenomena occur. Finally, that there is no graft rejection.

However, the authors also recognise that the functioning of the organ would not be sufficient for it to be a destination therapy, but they do consider it to be a proof of concept of this idea of auxiliary liver transplantation, which would consist of using this procedure in people with fulminant liver failure for sufficient time to support them until a suitable human organ is identified for transplantation or until the function of the damaged liver recovers spontaneously.