Richard Slayman, the first person in the world to receive a genetically edited pig kidney transplant, died from an "unexpected cardiac event," his transplant surgeon said Nov. 13, according to The Boston Globe.
There was no sign of his body rejecting the kidney, Tatsuo Kawai, MD, PhD, director of the Legorreta Center for Clinical Transplantation Tolerance at Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital, said during a panel discussion, the Globe reported Nov. 14.
Mr. Slayman, 62, was discharged from the hospital April 3, 18 days after undergoing the procedure. He died 51 days after the surgery. At the time, Massachusetts General Hospital stated there was no indication his death was a result of the transplant.
After being discharged, Mr. Slayman was well enough to spend time with family and visit a shopping mall twice, the Globe reported.