Word: xenografts
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...Baby Fae's case what kind of consent did they give? If her parents thought that the operation might save their child (i.e., that it was therapeutic), they were misled. There was no scientific evidence to support that claim. The longest previous human survival with a heart xenograft was 3½ days. (Baby Fae lived 17 more.) The longest animal survival in Dr. Bailey's own studies was 165 days...
Even if Fae does not reject her new heart, she might ultimately need a replacement. Though Dr. Bailey's animal research suggests that a xenograft adjusts to the needs of its new host, no one really knows what to expect. Also unknown is the long-term effect of cyclosporine, which Fae may have to take for the rest of her life. The drug has been found to cause liver and kidney damage and to increase the risk of certain cancers...
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