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The procedure is called 'Desensitization' where they filter out the existing antibodies in the patient's blood, and then infused external antibodies for protect

by esturk 11y ago

The procedure is called 'Desensitization' where they filter out the existing antibodies in the patient's blood, and then infused external antibodies for protection while the body regenerates new ones. Then the strange part is the new antibodies are less likely to attack the donated organs which results in more available donors for patients. The procedure is $30k, but in the long run is cheaper than $70k for dialysis every year. The life expectancy appears to be longer than using cadaver organs.

toomuchtodo 11y ago
This, along with the new cataracts surgery that no longer requires an artificial lens be inserted (the cataract is removed, and stem cells are used to grow a new lens within your body), makes it feel like there is such velocity in biomedical research right now. Exciting times!
- gozur88 11y ago
  It sure beats all those articles that end with "We should see clinical trials within five years", meaning it's going to be decades before it hits the clinic.
simcop2387 11y ago
That's really neat, does the procedure work with other organs too? I think something similar happens with bone marrow transplants when they kill all of the original marrow too doesn't it (not by design but by the nature of what you're doing).
- rincebrain 11y ago
  Article says you could theoretically do it with lungs and liver, but it's less necessary because you don't have much antibody response to the specific organs (versus, say, the "normal" immune response you will always have from transplanted tissue).
- readams 11y ago
  Bone marrow transplant is a totally different situation since the new bone marrow has the immune system of the donor. This leads to the bone marrow rejecting the recipient, rather than the other way around. Called graft vs. host disease.
- esturk 11y ago
  Yes there is a similar procedure for marrow transplants. It is called 'Haploidentical Transplant' where you only need a half match for marrow transplants which opens the door to parents and children as donors. The procedure requires a 'rebooting' of the immune system which is analogous to the "remove then let it regenerate" approach mentioned in the kidney procedure. I guess the insight comes from the immune system changing to accomodate new organs after it reboots. Its a really interesting area of research. http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/kimmel_cancer_center/centers/bone_marrow_transplant/haploidentical_transplantation.html http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/kimmel_cancer_center/centers/...

by esturk 11y ago

toomuchtodo 11y ago

This, along with the new cataracts surgery that no longer requires an artificial lens be inserted (the cataract is removed, and stem cells are used to grow a new lens within your body), makes it feel like there is such velocity in biomedical research right now. Exciting times!

gozur88 11y ago
It sure beats all those articles that end with "We should see clinical trials within five years", meaning it's going to be decades before it hits the clinic.

simcop2387 11y ago

That's really neat, does the procedure work with other organs too? I think something similar happens with bone marrow transplants when they kill all of the original marrow too doesn't it (not by design but by the nature of what you're doing).

rincebrain 11y ago
Article says you could theoretically do it with lungs and liver, but it's less necessary because you don't have much antibody response to the specific organs (versus, say, the "normal" immune response you will always have from transplanted tissue).
readams 11y ago
Bone marrow transplant is a totally different situation since the new bone marrow has the immune system of the donor. This leads to the bone marrow rejecting the recipient, rather than the other way around. Called graft vs. host disease.
esturk 11y ago
Yes there is a similar procedure for marrow transplants. It is called 'Haploidentical Transplant' where you only need a half match for marrow transplants which opens the door to parents and children as donors. The procedure requires a 'rebooting' of the immune system which is analogous to the "remove then let it regenerate" approach mentioned in the kidney procedure. I guess the insight comes from the immune system changing to accomodate new organs after it reboots. Its a really interesting area of research. http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/kimmel_cancer_center/centers/bone_marrow_transplant/haploidentical_transplantation.html http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/kimmel_cancer_center/centers/...