Xenotransfusion
Xenotransfusion (from Greek
In 1658, Dom Robert Desgabets, a French monk, introduced the idea of xenotransfusion at a scientific society meeting. This society later afforded the French Academy of Sciences.[1] Some ethical issues have been identified by the Ethics Committee of the International Xenotransplantation Association (IXA).[2] For example, the IXA sets standards and regulations for those planning to orchestrate clinical xenotransplantation trials.[3] The IXA has identified three major ethical areas that require adequate attention: favorable risk and benefit assessment supported by pre-clinical data, lack of alternative treatment for participants, and minimizing the risk of infection by ensuring the highest biosafety regulations are followed for selected animal donors. These are just a few examples of the ethics behind xenotransplantation.
History
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The first recorded blood transfusion was performed between two dogs in 1665.[4] On June 15, 1667, Jean-Baptiste Denis, a French physician, and Paul Emmerez, a surgeon, performed the first documented xenotransfusion to humans. The transfusion occurred between a lamb and a 15-year-old boy.[1][5] Carotid artery blood from the lamb was introduced to a vein in the patient's inner elbow, and the procedure ultimately resulted in a successful recovery.[5] Denis and Emmerez performed multiple xenotransfusions together. On June 24, 1667, the duo performed a transfusion on a young Swedish nobleman.[1] When they arrived, the patient had already lost his ability to speak and was practically unconscious. Shortly after the transfusion began, the patient was able to speak again. His health was improving until his condition grew progressively worse. A second transfusion took place, but it was unsuccessful, and the patient died.
Richard Lower, an English physician, performed a similar procedure on November 23, 1667.[1][5] He successfully transfused the blood of a lamb to a 22-year-old man.[1] In both cases, the whole blood of the lamb was directly introduced into the vein of the patient. The direct introduction of blood was due to a lack of knowledge in preventative blood coagulation techniques at the time.
After several xenotransfusion procedures, some successful some not, the French Parliament prohibited the practice of these transfusions in 1670.[5] The English Parliament, as well as the Pope, followed suit and prohibited the procedures shortly after.
Ethical arguments involving the pig for xenotransfusion
Xenotransfusion uses non-human animals to aid in the shortage of blood for
Veterinary xenotransfusion
Transfusion of canine blood into domestic cats was performed historically and continues to be performed in some countries.[4]
Xenotransfusions have been performed on birds, though the procedure is only done to stabilize a bird in shock, due to rejection by the recipient bird's antibodies.[8]
Xenotransfusion of bovine whole blood into domestic goats has been preliminarily investigated as a potential option for anemic goats.[9] When comparing caprine-recipient bovine-donor cross matching a study found 11/15 caprine-bovine combinations compatible on both major and minor cross matching.[9][10]
References
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- ^ S2CID 25416442.
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- ^ PMID 22983454.
- ^ S2CID 20495953.
- S2CID 35821685.
- PMID 10791883.
- ^ Russo, Carmen (June 22, 2018). "Fact-Checking Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom". Slate.
Birds often receive cross-species transfusions because they do not have blood types and there are thousands of different species. These procedures are only done to buy time to stabilize a creature in shock. "Whenever you go across species, the red blood cells are destroyed, and it varies how long they last. It can be as short as half a day, or five to six days [...] But what that gives you is time to stabilize the animal and provide other life-supportive measures."
- ^ PMID 33748213.
- PMID 33748213.