First Uterus Transplant Removed Again After Yeast Infection
In what was supposedly hoped as the first successful uterus transplant in the US has now been discarded as failure after the 26-year-old patient developed a yeast infection prompting surgeons to remove the organ off the new host just weeks after the surgery.
Doctors at Cleveland Clinic indicated that the said infection compromised the patient's blood supply which made the organ removal extremely necessary. Despite the failed transplant, patient Lindsey McFarland vowed to try another way to get pregnant preferably through IVF.
"Preliminary results suggest that the complication was because of an infection caused by an organism that is commonly found in a woman's reproductive system. The infection appears to have compromised the blood supply to the uterus, causing the need for its removal," the clinic's official statement reads as quoted by ABC News.
According to a report by New York Times, the infection was blamed on a yeast fungus called Candida Albicans that normally co-exists in balance with other bacteria found in the vagina. However, the balance can be disrupted in the event of an illness or medication leading to possible yeast overgrowth. The doctors explained that the yeast inhabiting the genital tract may have possibly come from the donor as the transplant not only includes the uterus but also vaginal tissues from the donor.
As a result of the failed transplant, Cleveland Clinic is bound to extract important lessons from such experience and pore over the details of the case to prevent similar failed transplants in the future.
"There is an ongoing review of all the data and the team is modifying the protocol to reduce the chances of this complication occurring again in the future. The health of our patient is and has always been our primary concern," the clinic's further statement reads as quoted by Daily Mail.
