Doctors in China have reported a major breakthrough in xenotransplantation, revealing that a genetically modified pig liver was transplanted into a 71-year-old man who lived for 171 days following the procedure.
For 38 of those days, the pig liver remained inside the patient, providing vital support — marking the first peer-reviewed case of a successful pig-to-human liver transplant.
The pioneering operation, performed in May 2024 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, used a liver from an 11-month-old cloned pig that underwent 10 genetic modifications to reduce the risks of infection and immune rejection. The patient also received immunosuppressive therapy to help his body accept the foreign organ.
While xenotransplants involving pig hearts and kidneys have previously shown promise, the liver has long been viewed as one of the most complex organs to replace due to its size, dual blood supply, and wide range of functions — including detoxification, blood filtration, and protein production.
Dr. Beicheng Sun, president of the hospital and co-author of the study, expressed optimism about the achievement. “Everyone always says the liver is too complicated to transplant compared to the heart or kidney,” he said. “But after this, I think people will think differently.”
The findings, published Thursday in the Journal of Hepatology, suggest that genetically engineered pig livers could serve as a temporary “bridge” to sustain patients with severe liver disease until their own liver recovers or a suitable human donor organ becomes available.
The patient, who suffered from hepatitis B-related cirrhosis and a large, inoperable liver tumor, was not eligible for immediate human transplantation. After discussions with his daughter, he agreed to undergo the experimental procedure, which Dr. Sun described as a significant contribution to medical science.
During surgery, doctors removed the tumor and attached the modified pig liver to what remained of the man’s native liver. The organ began functioning immediately — turning red, producing bile, and improving liver function markers within the first 24 hours. By day 10, there were no signs of acute rejection, and the patient’s remaining liver tissue showed signs of recovery.
However, complications developed by day 25, when tests revealed cardiac stress and inflammation. Despite adjustments to immunosuppressive treatment, rejection intensified, likely due to xenotransplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy — a condition involving microscopic clots in small blood vessels.
On day 38, the pig liver was removed after doctors determined the patient’s native liver could sustain him. He recovered well until day 135, when he suffered upper gastrointestinal bleeding and later died on day 171.
Dr. Heiner Wedemeyer, a professor at Hannover Medical School in Germany and co-author of an editorial accompanying the study, described the experiment as “groundbreaking.” He said it opens a “completely new opportunity” for supporting patients with acute liver failure who might not qualify for human organ transplantation.
The study concludes that pig-to-human liver transplantation can “provide effective hepatic support while preserving part of the native liver,” underscoring its potential as a feasible bridging strategy.
Globally, the demand for human organs continues to exceed supply — with livers ranking as the second most sought-after organ after kidneys.
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