Record-Breaking Duration for Pig Kidney Transplant in U.S. Patient

In a groundbreaking case that has captured the attention of the medical community, a pig kidney that was transplanted into an American woman has been removed after her body rejected the organ. Despite this setback, the patient, Towana Looney, achieved a remarkable milestone by surviving four months with the genetically modified kidney, setting a record for such transplants.

Looney, a resident of Alabama in her fifties, underwent the experimental procedure on November 25, 2024, at NYU Langone Hospital in New York City. The transplant was part of a pioneering effort to address the critical shortage of available human kidneys for transplant. While the body's rejection of the organ indicates that the reliable use of animal organs in transplantation is still a challenging endeavor, medical professionals are encouraged by the fact that the pig kidney functioned effectively for 130 days.

Prior attempts to transplant pig kidneys have yielded limited success, with previous patients not surviving beyond two months. Looney's case stands out not only for its duration but also for the insights it provides into future possibilities for xenotransplantation--the process of transplanting organs from one species to another.

After the transplant, Looney experienced a significant improvement in her quality of life, allowing her to reconnect with friends and family without the constant burden of dialysis treatments that she had endured for eight years following a pregnancy-related complication that damaged her kidneys.

However, in early April 2025, Looney experienced a decline in kidney function due to acute rejection, prompting doctors to intervene. Robert Montgomery, the chair of surgery and the director of the hospital's transplant institute, noted that the cause of the rejection is currently being studied. It followed a reduction in her immunosuppression medication, which had been adjusted to combat an unrelated infection.

The decision to remove the pig kidney was made collaboratively between Looney and her medical team, prioritizing her health and potential future transplantation options. Following the surgery on April 4, doctors reported that she recovered quickly and was discharged within five days.

Looney remains hopeful about receiving a human kidney transplant in the future and expressed gratitude for the care she received throughout the experimental procedure. Her experience is expected to contribute valuable knowledge to ongoing research in the field of organ transplantation, particularly as the medical community seeks to explore innovative solutions to the organ shortage crisis.