Posted by Marina on October 16, 1997 at 19:46:58:
In Reply to: Re: Porcine Virus posted by SJS on October 16, 1997 at 16:08:54:
Steve and Tom, thank you both for explaining this in such a way that even I can understand.
On another note, I read in last week's Chicago Sun Times (Monday, Oct. 6) that pig livers were being tested at Northwestern Memorial Hospital as a temporary measure for transplant recipients until human organs become available. I'll quote part of it here:
"Northwestern memorial Hospital is beginning a clinical trial that could lead the way toward transplanting animal organs into people.
Working with Baxter Healthcare, Northwestern wants to determine whether pig livers can be used to keep people alive while they wait for transplants of human livers. The trial will involve about 20 patients with sudden liver failure. While a patient waits for a human liver to become available, doctors will circulate the patient's blood through a pig liver at his bedside. If successful, permanent tranplants of pig organs into humans could be next..."
The article goes on to hypothesize about the pros and cons of xenotransplantation.
Marina