(JP)Animal-human organ transplant guidelines set

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http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20020211wo31.htm

 

Animal-human organ transplant guidelines set

 

Yomiuri Shimbun, 11 Feb 2002

 

A Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry study group has

drafted a set of guidelines for transplants of

artificially grown organs to prevent human recipients

from being infected by unknown pathogens transmitted

by donor animals, it was learned Saturday.

 

There has been a great deal of research into

heterogeneous organ transplants--in which animal

organs are transplanted into humans--since it is

considered an effective solution to the shortage of

donor organs.

 

However, experts have raised the possibility that such

species-to-species grafts may infect recipients with

unknown pathogens, such as viruses, to which humans

are not immune.

 

According to the draft, donor animals will have to be

bred in germ-free conditions completely separated from

other animals and subject to thorough scanning for the

presence of potential pathogens.

 

The draft also calls for recipients to undergo regular

checkups to see if they are infected by unknown

pathogens. Researchers specializing in contagious

diseases, such as virologists, and veterinarians

should be included in medical teams that conduct

heterogeneous organ transplants, it said.

 

According to the draft, transplant teams should notify

government authorities of any abnormal symptoms or

conditions experienced by organ recipients.

 

Because the guideline draft is designed only to deal

with infections, however, " further discussions will be

necessary to draft guidelines for a comprehensive

clinical applications system " dealing with

heterogeneous organ transplants, members of the

ministry's study group said.

 

Pigs are considered the prime candidate for animal

donors because their organs are close in size to those

of humans' and extensive research already has been

conducted on pathogens to which pigs are vulnerable.

 

Copyright 2002 The Yomiuri Shimbun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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