Thyroid Transplant: From a Rabbit?
According to a report in the Times of India, Belarussian surgeons in Minsk have transplanted the thyroid gland of a rabbit to a human."This technology has been used for the first time in world. It relies on four years of research," according professor Stanislav Tretyak of the Belarussian State University.
The patient, a 39-year-old woman, is said to be in good condition, with normal thyroid blood levels after the surgery.
Apparently, while human to human thyroid transplants have been tried repeatedly, but failed due to rejection of the donor organs, these thyroid glands were grown using rabbit embryos, and pose less risk of rejection.
Are more rabbit thyroid transplants on the way? It will depend on the success of this pioneering test.
"These are just our first steps," said Tretyak. "Saying whether there has been real success will be possible no earlier than after twelve months."
Source: Times of India
Comments
This would be great. I had my thyroid removed due to Cancer and I have not been normal since. I catch every bug thats within a mile of me it seems and This sounds like it could help alot of people,like myself.
i had my thyroid removed at age 14. i think its a great idea. i would try it if there were no serious heath risks i take synthyroid and feel terrible
This would be so incredible for those of us without thyroids! Had mine removed in 2005 for papillary carcinoma and things have never been the same with thyroid replacement meds! Let’s hope this works!
I had my thyroid removed in 2001, I had cancer. I have not felt well ever since. Why is this something I am hearing over and over? When I asked what would life be like without a thyroid? The surgeon said, “No problem, just take one pill a day”. Boy, if it were only true. I sure hope the thyroid transplants turn out to be a viable option!
My thyroid was removed 2003 due to enlargement. I bought the “just take a pill” line which led to extreme depression and anger. I have been fighting for my health ever since. I did find a doctor that would prescribe Armour and that helped quite a bit. My lifesaver has been acupuncture. Desperate thyroid patients will try anything - even a trip to Minsk! I hope they also study the rabbits after surgery, to see if a simple pill allows them to lead a normal life…. They sure don’t seem to be concerned about human quality of life after the knife. Do I sound bitter?
I had my thyroid removed due to papillary cancer in 1986. Life has never been the same. Too much meds one test and then not enough the next. A constant rollercoaster even 20 years later.
Let’s see where this goes. USA won’t recognize it as being proven until long after we are dead (I’m 54)…….not in my lifetime anyway.
I was probably born with Hashimoto’s and got RAI to kill my thyroid when I was 6. No, my life wasn’t normal or robust. Now at 51, I take Levothroid and also homeopathic drops. I’m still not as zippy as I know I could be, but better than I ever was before. The xplant sounds good at first glance; I wonder if the recipient needs to stay on anti-rejection drugs for the remainder of life. I also wonder if thyroid antibodies would kill the transplanted organ. Hmmm.
I have been blessed enought to have some engery left and a Doc. that prescribed Armour. I also do acupuncture and anything else I think might help. RAI for Graves Disease in 1995 left me no thyroid. I will be very interested in the transplant if all goes well. I heard the same ol’ just one pill a day crap also…. They don’t bother to tell you all the other junk you have to live with.
I had my thyroid removed in 2000 because of papillary cancer. I do not have the energy I used to have, some days I just feel so hypothyroid and even my legs are bothersome and I get depressed .
I for one certainly would try the thyroid transplant~Ah, to feel good again and really enjoy life! (-:
I had my Thyroid removed in 2004 and wasn’t told what the ultimate out come would be like. I’m now on a constant roller coaster ride of rides trying to keep my med. levels stable and to keep my mood swings in check not to mention this large amount of weight I’ve gained that I can’t lose. It would be wonderful if those of us who have gone through total or partial Thyroidectomy’s to have the opportunity of having a Thyroid transplant. Imagine how wonderful we’d all feel if we had that opportunity.
My thyroid was remeoved via RAI in 1989 due to supposedly, Post partum thyroidiitis, or Graves Disease…. they never really knew the actual cause. “A pill a day” is what I was told as well. But OHHHHHH how wrong they were. This disease has ruined my occupation (which I can no longer practice,I was a RN) It ruined my life, in so far as the loss of energy I had as my young children grew up. The disease also ruined my marriage, when my husband just couldn’t handle or understand the mood swings that are associated with this disease that the majority of doctors, including “Thyroid Specialists” know absolutely nothing about. I was genetically tested about 11 years, and found to have the gene that gives you thryroid resisitance syndrome. Most doctors (endocronologists) won’t even admit the disease even exists. I am 51 years old. I have suffered from this disease which has gotten progressively worse over the past 18 years and I would hop on a plane to Minsk today, if I thought there was even a chance for things to get better.
I think it would be grate to be able to have transplants and feel normal again. My thyroid was removed probably following ill advised option.just for Graves disease. i really regret having surgery and would do anything to get my thyroid back.
Thts good new for all of us without thyroid glands or without pth.i got it removed in 2005 due to papialiarry carcinoma & fully cured & taking eltroxin.Kindly let me know abt the developments in thyroid transplant,it would be real help for all of us.
I had my thyroid killed by iodine radiation, since then my work ethics have gone out the window and i am currently going through a divorce. Depression and lack of enthusiasm weight problems in both directions can make loosing your thyroid one of the worst things, in my opinion, a person could endure.
I had my thyroid removed in 2005 when I was only 24, due to pappilary & follicular cancer. I have read so many of the comments posted here about everyone’s doctors saying that life without a thyroid would be normal if you just take your pill everyday. My oncologist said the same thing. I take Synthroid 150, and to me it doesn’t feel like the right dosage despite what my blood workups says. It is so hard to keep up with life and everything I use to do before. I have to children 8 & 3, it’s very hard to keep up with them indeed. When I read about the rabbit transplant I thought that it would be worth a shot, people like us sometimes are ready to have faith in anything. But until they come up with a procedure that is proven safe, I will keep on keeping on that all I can do,huh. I will be praying for everyone.
If not a transplant, then take a thyroid gland in a pill: Armour Thyroid dosed by symptoms, adrenal support, and iodoral or lugol’s solution with vitamin c to reverse the iodine deficiency that brought you all to the world of thyroidlessness at the hands of those who only know how to drug and cut rather than cure… I’ve been thyroidless since my healthy thyroid was destroyed in 1990…lost my life until 2003 when I found Armour… Try out the yahoo group called thyroidless for more help from those that are surviving without thyroids…
Hello my inquiry is a little different from the rest. I am a basic healthy mom at the age of 42. I weight 160lb 5′7″. My daughter is 10 and her thyroid is basically non active at all. She has several medical problems such as bowel back p so bad she needs surgery to possibly drain her, as she has been on lavative jelly and Sunthroid for most of her life since the age of 3. This is rarely found in children that young. My question to you all is , should I inquire about having transfer my thyroid to my daughter. I have no problem maintaining a life style to keep my safe without a thyroid. I feel my daughter is too young to have to be restricted to a complete childhood experiences. She is resticted as her weight depresses her and she is the healthiest eater I know, as well she is continually taking pills and going for needles. Just wondering is anyone has any suggestions or assistance for me. Thanks from Chris in Onoway- Alberta, Canada.
I am thyroidless since 2002, because of pap. C. Then RAI and since then L-Thyroxin. My life is misery since then. Does anybody have any Information, what has happend with the woman with rabbit transplantation. I can not find any information.
to comment 17- Do not do this!Life without thyroid gland is terrible, you would not be able to take care of your child, because you will suffer a lot. Better try Armour Thyroid for the child and also adrenal support( Hidrocortison), and join the yahoo group thyroidless. Desi
Great site! I am a 38 yr old mother of 3. Diagnoses with Hashimotos after birth of firstborn 16 yrs ago. The years have been horrendous! Tried to maintain normal life with cytomel and synthroid. My thyroid glad has atrophied to almost nothing. Now battling PCOS and weight gain that cannot come off- no matter what I eat, don’t eat, or how many hours I excercise! I cannot imagine many more years like this! I hope this transplant works! I will be wanting to try this ASAP!
I didn’t realize that so many people have the same problem. I always felt alone. I had my thyroid removed when i was 14. 1999 im 23 now and life has been so very hard. Everyday is a constant struggle and it is hard for my otherhalf as well. My memory seems to be deteriorating everyday. I have already forgotten half my childhood. I hope the thyroid transplant works i too would fly the distance.