Survey: Swedes Favorable to Cell and Tissue Transplants From Animals

A poll conducted in Sweden found people generally favorable to the idea of receiving cell and tissue transplants from animals, but much more uncertain about receiving a whole organ such as a kidney from an animal.

The survey on attitudes toward xenotransplantation -- the use of animal tissues or organs as a substitute for failing human ones -- was sent to 1,000 members of the Swedish public and to all 460 patients between the ages of 18 and 75 awaiting kidney transplants in the spring of 1998.

Reporting in the journal Xenotransplantation, the researchers said the poll found widespread support for continued research into xenotransplantation, with 80 percent of the public and 90 percent of patients awaiting kidney transplants backing it.

"Both study groups were positive to a greater extent in their attitude to receiving cells and tissue than to receiving a whole organ such as a kidney," the researchers said.

They said the public was generally "rather positive" to receiving organs from animals but was "very positive" to receiving animal cells and tissues. They said the number of negative and uncertain responses increased among both public and patients with the suggestion of more uncertainty regarding the outcome with xenotransplantation.

"The overall impression is that the attitude to xenotransplantation seems to be most influenced by whether the xenotransplant would involve whole organs or cells and uncertainty regarding the outcome," the researchers concluded.

Other Sources: Xenotransplantation