Reversal of Early Graft Rejection After Renal Heterotransplantation in Man

Abstract

A 43-year-old man in terminal uremia received a renal transplant from a chimpanzee. The grafted kidneys began functioning immediately but four days later threatened rejection occurred. This was reversed following increased doses of immunosuppressive drugs and radiotherapy. A milder episode of threatened rejection occurring in the fourth week was also reversed. Tests demonstrated function of both transplanted kidneys without evidence of function of the patient's own kidneys. As the patient entered his sixth post-transplantation week he was ambulatory, eating an unrestricted diet, had normal urinary volume and content, and normal blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels. Two months following the heterotransplantation, the patient died with pneumonia. The transplanted kidneys showed no evidence of rejection.