History of Xenotransplantation

By aubrielynn

  • Systematic Scientific Study

    Transplants of organs and tissue from animals to humans have a long history but it was not until the 1960s that they moved from simple trial and error to systematic scientific study.

    At that time, donor organs were not available and the use of animal organs seemed promising.

  • Kidney Transplantation

    1963-4: Baboon kidneys were grafted into six patients by transplant pioneer Thomas Starzl in Denver, US. The patients survived between 19 and 98 days.

  • Chimpanzee Kidneys

    1963-4: Chimpanzee kidneys were transplanted into 12 patients in New Orleans, US. Most failed within two months but one recipient survived for nine months with no sign of rejection.

  • Chimpanzee heart

    1964: A 68-year-old man received a chimpanzee heart in Jackson, US, but only survived for two hours.

  • Chimpanzee Livers

    1969-1974: Three children received chimpanzee livers but only survived between one and 14 days

  • Cyclosporin

    1972 with the introduction of cyclosporin, a powerful drug that minimises the rejection of foreign tissue.

  • Baboon Heart

    1977: A 25-year-old woman had a baboon heart transplanted in Capetown, South Africa, and a moderate circulation was maintained but only for six hours before acute rejection. The same group also used a chimpanzee heart to assist the heart of a 60-year-old man. But despite high doses of immunosupressant drugs the patient died after four days.

  • Baboon Heart in Baby

    1984: The Baby Fae case: A newborn baby received a baboon heart in California. Cyclosporine was used and she lived for 20 days.

  • Baboon Liver

    1992: A four-drug cocktail assisted a baboon liver transplant. The patient died of a brain haemorrhage after 71 days. The type of rejection typical in cross-species transplantation was not seen.

  • Pig Liver

    1992: A pig liver was implanted next to patient's own liver to buy time for a human organ to be found but the patient died after 32 hours.

  • First Pig Liver

    1992, organs generally came from chimpanzees or baboons, but in that year a pig liver was used to help a patient survive whilst a human liver was found.

  • Baboon Marrow and Kidney Transplant

    1993: Baboon bone marrow and kidney transplant carried out in Pittsburgh, US with same drug cocktail used as in 1992 case. However, the patient's suppressed immune system succumbs to infection after 26 days