Kidney patient saved... by vein grown in a lab
A SCOTTISH patient has become the first in Europe to receive a new vein grown from human cells in a laboratory. David Thompson underwent the groundbreaking transplant to make his kidney dialysis easier.
His surgery will be shown in a behindthe-scenes BBC documentary at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), Glasgow.
The vein used was grown from donated cells in the US and flown to Glasgow where it was implanted in Mr Thompson’s arm – vastly improving his quality of life.
Doctors behind the procedure describe it as ‘science fiction’ becoming reality.
Kidney dialysis is a life-saving treatment that cleans the blood of patients whose kidneys do not function properly. But patients endure a gruelling regime, usually attending hospital for three fourhour sessions a week.
Some must have tubes permanently inserted into a vein in the chest, which makes everyday activities such as showering difficult as the tubes must not get wet.
An easier method is using a vein in the arm, which does not require a permanent line, but not all patients’ veins are suitable.
Mr Thompson, 35, was given his transplant as part of a trial. The vein was grown on a so-called ‘scaffold’ tube to give it a long straw-like shape, with the process taking ten weeks.
David Kingsmore, consultant vascular and transplant surgeon at QEUH, carried out the surgery. He said: ‘To my knowledge this is the first trial where this technology has been used. Kidney dialysis costs £30,000 per patient per year and it is a harsh experience.’
For this reason, he said, anything that can be done for patients ‘to make their life better is worth doing’.
The Glasgow team have already carried out a transplant trial using artificial veins made from plastic in patients. Now they are studying how the laboratory-grown vein compares.
If successful, it could revolutionise kidney dialysis for thousands of people. Mr Thompson, a freelance theatre and gig technician, was diagnosed with kidney failure after falling ill with a bladder blockage in August 2015. He said: ‘At first I had a line inserted into my chest which was like a bicycle pump.
‘It was terrible because you can’t get it wet, which meant I struggled to shower, and I would lie on it when I was in bed. The veins in my arm were not large enough to have dialysis in the normal way.
‘I felt trepidation about having this vein transplant, but I was quite ill. Now I feel much better because the treatment is working better. I have been able to go swimming and cycling and get much of my life back. Dialysis still leaves you tired but I am hoping to return to work.’
Since his treatment in November last year, he had recovered enough to marry 24-year-old fiancée Debbie last month in a ceremony at Glasgow City Chambers.
Mr Thompson said: ‘It seemed like the right time to do it and to have a small get-together to say thanks to everyone who has supported us.’
Scotland’s Superhospital is on Monday on BBC1 Scotland, at 9pm.
‘The treatment is working better’