Chinese doctors have performed the world’s first pig-to-human liver transplant, keeping the patient alive for nearly six months and marking a major advance in xenotransplantation research.
Chinese surgeons have made history by successfully transplanting a genetically modified pig liver into a 71-year-old man, marking the world’s first pig-to-human liver transplant. According to NAN, the patient, whose liver was severely scarred by hepatitis B and cancer, survived for 171 days after the procedure.
Researchers from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University reported that the modified pig liver, sourced from a Diannan miniature pig, initially functioned effectively but was later removed due to complications known as xenotransplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (xTMA). “This case proves that a genetically engineered pig liver can function in a human for an extended period,” said lead investigator Dr Beicheng Sun.
Dr Heiner Wedemeyer, co-editor of the Journal of Hepatology, described the surgery as “a landmark in hepatology,” adding that it demonstrates both promise and ethical challenges ahead.
The breakthrough follows previous xenotransplants involving pig hearts and kidneys, as scientists continue working to overcome immune rejection barriers. Experts say this success could “open completely new paths” for patients with severe liver failure, ushering in what researchers call “a new era of transplant hepatology.”