Case 3 – Bailey: Animal-Human Xenotransplantation

Abstract

Bailey Leonard L. et al. (1985) Baboon-to-Human Cardiac Xenotransplantation in a Neonate. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 254 (23) pp. 3321- 3329 The report details the first case of cardiac xenotransplantation in a neonate. The patient was, a victim of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). HLHS is a spectrum of uniformly lethal congenital cardiovascular malformations in humans. Most victims die in the first month of their life regardless of therapy. Only one case report describes extended patient survival of 3.5 years. The recipient of the reported xenotransplantation survived 20 days. The graft showed traces of cellmediated rejection. Graft failure appears to have resulted from a progressive humoral response, unmodified by the administered immunosuppressants. The authors suggest that cardiac allotransplantation and selective baboon-to-human xenon- transplantation deserves further exploration as investigational therapy for neonatal HLHS therapy.