First patient with pig heart may have died of pig virus
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First patient with pig heart may have died of pig virus

by

06 mei 2022

09:51

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New research sheds light on the death of David Bennett, the first patient to have a modified pig heart implanted. A dormant pig virus may have caused his death.

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Everything seemed to be going well until Bennett developed complications after 40 days. Surgeon Griffith recently told colleagues in a presentation that his patient woke up one morning with symptoms of an infection.

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pig virus

Research shows that virus DNA was present in the transplanted heart. According to an article in MIT Technology Review researchers found strands of a cytomegalovirus, which came from pigs. Possibly the virus was ‘in hibernation’, a bit like the herpes virus. This remains in the body and occasionally crops up.

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If it was indeed an infection, we can probably prevent it in the future.

Bartley Griffith

transplant surgeon

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The cytomegalovirus can seriously affect transplanted organs. Researchers therefore consider it certainly possible that the virus at least contributed to Bennett’s death. “We’re starting to understand why he died,” Griffith said in his presentation. He believes it is quite possible that the virus has set everything in motion, although that is not yet certain. Griffith: “If it was indeed an infection, we can probably prevent it in the future.”

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To test

The medical team involved in the treatment say the pig’s heart was examined for the presence of infections. The donor pig was also bred in a barn specifically designed to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Revivicor, the company that supplied the pig, has not yet responded.

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The scientific director of the University of Maryland’s xenotransplantation program, Muhammad Mohiuddin, says work is underway to develop more sophisticated tests. “To make sure we don’t miss those kinds of viruses.”

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