The potential of cardiac xenotransplantation for management of infants with complex congenital heart disease.

ABSTRACT: Gene editing of the porcine genome has enabled the production of pigs that do not express the three known carbohydrate antigens that are associated with hyperacute rejection of a pig organ xenotransplant. In addition, it is now possible to insert a variety of human transgenes to protect against the human immune response, e.g., to protect from complement and coagulation activation. As a result, cardiac xenotransplantation of the gene-edited porcine heart is progressing towards clinical application. Many hope that it will definitively address the disparity between organ supply and demand. The role of cardiac xenotransplantation in pediatric care remains controversial but we believe there is an infant patient population with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) (not optimally managed by con

SUBMITTER: Cleveland JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10772834 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature