Animal organs a risk: Study
Unfit for Humans

By SHARON LEM, TORONTO SUN
Wednesday, December 27, 2000

Source: http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoNews/ts.ts-12-27-0042.html

Despite a critical shortage of human donor organs, transplants involving hearts or lungs from pigs should not be permitted, a new study recommends.

A review by a group of leading scientists, commissioned by the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, says clinical trials involving humans would be justified only if there is little potential for the spread of animal viruses to humans.

The group, which looked at cross-species transplantation -- or xenotransplantation -- in the treatment of patients dying of heart and lung disease, also said researchers must come up with a strategy to overcome the rejection of pig organs by the human body.

"We would require sufficient evidence from animal studies to assure us that the donor organ could meet the physiological needs of a human recipient and that the methods used to prevent rejection would not otherwise compromise the patient's health and quality of life," said lead author Dr. David Cooper, a professor at Harvard Medical School.

The review said if xenotransplants of animal organs works, it could offer an unlimited supply of organs and allow the transplant procedures to be scheduled on an elective basis instead of surgery only when the organ becomes available.

"These are very difficult decisions," said Dr. Anne Keogh, president of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation.

"But we gave every issue our most careful consideration, from close inspection of the science to discussion of the ethical and social implications."