The field of transplant medicine is undergoing transformative changes that are set to significantly improve the management and outcomes of organ transplantation. These advancements are very important for transplant recipients, offering them the potential for a better quality of life, longer organ survival with better function as well as fewer short and long-term complications.
Transplant Medications
In this field, scientists are working hard to find alternatives to calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs). CNIs are the main drugs used to stop the body from rejecting transplanted organs. However, they can be nephrotoxic (damaging to the kidneys) which not only affects kidney transplant patients but also those who have received heart, lung, or liver transplants. CNIs can cause high blood pressure, kidney problems, memory issues, and new cases of diabetes. Researchers want to find new treatments that are safer and just as effective as CNIs. This is important because it could help people live healthier, longer lives after their transplants.
[ML1] Another medicine available today, belatacept[LB2] , helps stop the immune system from attacking the new organ by blocking the activation of certain immune cells in your body. There are other new drugs in clinical trials that target parts of the immune cells to modify their activity. With any luck in years to come, we may have additional medicines that doctors can prescribe for their patients.
More Organs
While over 46,000 transplants were performed in 2023, there are around 100,000 people on the waitlist. The primary reason someone cannot get a transplant is the limited number of kidneys available. Someone either has to die and donate an organ, or someone needs to voluntarily give a kidney to a recipient. The system needs more organs, and despite great efforts to educate people on the value of kidney donation, we still do not have enough organs. More than 17 people die each day on the waitlist, as they cannot wait any longer. We need more organs. [REF]
Scientists are turning to new sources of organs, such as xenotransplantation, to address this urgent demand. Xenotransplantation is the transplantation of animal organs into humans. It has gained traction in recent years through advances in gene editing. Scientists can change pigs to make their organs more like human organs by adding some human genes and taking away some pig genes that humans react badly to. Pigs are the favored xenograft (organ) donors because their kidneys, heart, lung, and pancreas function similarly to those of humans. Their livers do not. Pigs have big litters, usually six or more, and their pregnancies only last 60-65 days, so many pigs can be born in a short time.
Alongside xenotransplantation, advancements in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine will [LB3] enable the creation of new organs from a recipient’s own cells. This development could not only significantly shorten waiting times but also significantly decrease the risk of rejection.
Other Improvements
Cell therapy, including new methods using stem cells, aims to help the body accept transplants without needing lifelong medication to stop rejection (i.e., tolerance). For patients, this could mean living without the risk of medication side effects like infections and cancer. Cell therapy might also be used in ways that could make the need for a transplant unnecessary.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is improving the organ matching process (i.e., helping people in need match better with new organs), predicting how well the transplant will go, and choosing the best medicines to prevent rejection and side effects. For people who get transplants, this means a better chance of success and care.
Even though these new technologies are exciting, as with any new technology, there are limits, rules, ethical issues, and high costs. But the potential benefits, such as living longer, having fewer health problems, and more available organs, are very important for people who need transplants.
The shift towards these new technologies could redefine the definition of “normal” of post-transplant care, offering recipients a life that is not only longer but also free from the burdens of current immunosuppressive medicines. Understanding these new developments is essential for transplant patients to make more informed decisions about their health.
In conclusion, the current advancements in the development of transplant medication are set to potentially revolutionize the field, directly impacting recipients by offering them safer and more effective treatment options, a potentially limitless organ supply, and a significantly improved quality of life. These changes highlight why recipients should remain informed, supportive, and proactive about the evolving landscape of transplant medicine.
This article is made possible by the support of ITB-MED LLC.
Glossary
Artificial Intelligence (AI): Computer systems that can help doctors match organs to recipients, predict transplant outcomes, and customize drug treatments to reduce rejection and side effects.
Belatacept: A drug that helps prevent organ rejection by blocking the activation of T-cells, which are part of the immune system.
Calcineurin Inhibitors (CNIs): A type of medication used to prevent organ rejection, but they can harm the kidneys and cause other side effects like high blood pressure, memory problems, and diabetes.
Cell Therapy: Using cells, like stem cells, to treat diseases and help the body accept a transplanted organ without needing strong immune-suppressing drugs.
Ethical Issues: Concerns about what is right or wrong in medical practices, such as using animal organs in humans.
Gene Editing: Changing the genes of an animal to make their organs more suitable for human transplantation.
Immunosuppressive Regimens: The specific plan and types of drugs used to keep the immune system from rejecting a transplanted organ.
Nephrotoxic: Something that is harmful to the kidneys.
Organ Matching: The process of finding the best donor organ for a recipient based on various factors to increase the chances of a successful transplant.
Post-Transplant Care: The ongoing medical care and treatment that a patient needs after receiving a new organ.
Quality of Life: The general well-being of a person, including their health, comfort, and happiness.
Regenerative Medicine: Using techniques to regrow or repair damaged tissues and organs in the body.
Stem Cells: Special cells that can develop into different types of cells in the body and can be used to repair or replace damaged tissues.
Tissue Engineering: Creating new organs from a patient’s own cells to reduce the risk of rejection and eliminate the need for a donor organ.
Transplant Medications: Drugs that help the body accept a new organ and prevent it from being rejected.
Xenotransplantation: Transplanting organs from animals, like pigs, into humans.
[LB3]“may” or will?
