Original story

Lancet 4.5.2015

Polish millionaire gets gene-manipulated pig’s heart - in stable condition after 3-hour operation

In a three-hour operation performed yesterday at Papworth, near Cambridge, Polish multi-millionaire Stanislav Lavczic became the first human recipient of a genetically-manipulated pig’s heart. The transplant operation went off successfully, and surgeons report that the patient is in a satisfactory condition.

The Scottish genetech company Dolly Inc. came to public attention some 20 years ago after successfully cloning a sheep. This was followed by the development of a herd of genetically altered cows which could be used for human blood transfusions. Today the great majority of blood transfusions are performed using blood from these cattle.

Eleven years ago, Dolly Inc. began genetic trials with the aim of altering the internal organs of the pig to match those in humans. At the beginning of 2013 laboratory experiments were carried out to test for rejection of foreign tissue in pig hearts that had been genetically manipulated for transplanting purposes. The results were encouraging, and at the beginning of this year the EU’s Health Commission gave the go-ahead for a transplant of a pig’s heart into a human patient.

Stanislav Lavczic, who made his fortune in energy transformer engineering, has suffered from chronic heart disease that does not respond even to the latest treatments or implants, and his condition is such that an artificial heart is also out of the question. Six months ago, doctors gave him a maximum of two years to live. At this point Lavczic heard of the work being carried out at the Dolly laboratories and invested some EUR 30 million in the project. At the same time he became the first human to volunteer for the transplant of a pig’s heart to replace his own.

Dolly Managing Director David Stricker comments that the pig was selected for the genetic experiments on the basis of the similarity of the animal’s heart - and several other organs - to that of humans. Stricker adds that new transplants are not scheduled in the near future, until a detailed picture can be built up of the behaviour of the transplanted organ in action. The Scottish company is nevertheless raising a herd of pigs, running to several thousand, all of which have genetically manipulated hearts and certain other organs. The implication is that if the first operation turns out to be successful, the way will be clear for this to become almost a routine procedure, avoiding much of the earlier problem of shortage of donors.

The worldwide Natural Development Association (NADA) today issued a statement on the heart transplant, condemning the doctors performing the operation as “filthy swine”. According to NADA, the use of genetically-altered and artificial organs destroys the natural development of human life and is turning man into a monstrous creature such as produced by Dr. Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s 19th century Gothic horror story.

Toteuma-arvio 2026

Toteuma lyhyesti

  • Ilmiön toteuma: 4/5
  • Toteuma viiden vuoden tarkkuudella: ei; arviointi-ikkuna on 2010–2020
  • Toteuma väljemmällä aikahorisontilla: kyllä, hieman myöhemmin
  • Ilmiön ydin: geenimuokatun sian sydän voidaan siirtää ihmiselle niin, että akuutti hyljintä estetään ainakin tilapäisesti.

Ensimmäiset geenimuokatun sian sydämen siirrot eläville ihmisille tehtiin vuonna 2022, ja potilaat selvisivät leikkauksesta mutta eivät pitkäaikaisesti. Vuoden 2015 ennusteen aikaikkuna päättyi 2020, joten toteuma jäi kaksi vuotta sen ulkopuolelle.

Johtopäätös: ennusteen lääketieteellinen ydin toteutui hämmästyttävän lähelle, mutta hieman liian myöhään.