Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026
08:15
Minimally Invasive Establishment of Murine Orthotopic Bladder Xenografts
Published on: February 11, 2014
Combined bladder-kidney transplantation: first-in-human feasibility trial
Nima Nassiri1, Inderbir S Gill2
1UCLA Kidney and Bladder Transplant Programs, UCLA Department of Urology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Lancet (London, England)
|June 23, 2026
Summary
This first-in-human bladder transplant shows a new surgical option is feasible for bladder dysfunction. The patient maintained good bladder and kidney function for over six months post-transplant.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Transplantation Immunology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Current treatments for terminal bladder dysfunction, such as intestinal reconstruction, have significant risks, especially for immunosuppressed patients.
- Vascularised composite bladder allograft transplantation is explored as a less morbid alternative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the safety and technical feasibility of combined kidney and bladder transplantation in a first-in-human trial.
- To evaluate the immunological and functional outcomes of bladder allograft transplantation.
Main Methods:
- An ongoing phase 0 feasibility trial involving adult patients (18-70 years) with non-functional bladders undergoing combined bladder-kidney transplantation.
- Primary endpoints include surgical completion, graft perfusion, and patient safety via adverse event monitoring.
Main Results:
- The first-in-human combined transplant was technically successful with good organ perfusion.
- Post-transplant, the patient demonstrated sustained renal and bladder allograft function, including continence and spontaneous voiding, with no signs of rejection at 6 months.
- A urine leak and wound breakdown occurred on postoperative day 25 but were surgically managed successfully.
Conclusions:
- First-in-human combined bladder-kidney transplantation is technically feasible.
- Bladder allograft transplantation shows promise as a viable option for select patients with terminal bladder dysfunction, particularly those already on immunosuppression.
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