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Michelle Trachtenberg underwent a liver transplant shortly before , a source told It’s not known if the “Gossip Girl” actor suffered complications from the transplant. At this time, no cause of death has been determined, according to the New York City chief medical examiner’s office. The actor, known for her roles in hit shows including “Gossip Girl” and was found dead in a New York City apartment on Feb.
26, officials confirmed to NBC News. Police found her unconscious and unresponsive after responding to a 911 call. No criminality was suspected.
Following her death, several of Trachtenberg’s colleagues to her on social media, including Blake Lively, who appeared with her in “Gossip Girl” from 2007 to 2012. “She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed,” Lively wrote as part of a lengthy tribute in her Instagram story.
“The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle,” Lively also wrote. “May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire.” “Gossip Girl” star Chace Crawford also paid tribute to Trachtenberg on , sharing a series of throwback selfies.
“Michelle was one of a kind. I remember her coming on set for the first time and just absolutely owning it,” he wrote. “She was a force of nature and just so so unapologetically funny and magnetic.
. remembering those years with a big smile.” Alyson Hannigan, who starred alongside Trachtenberg in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," also wrote on that she was "deeply saddened by the news of Michelle's passing.
" “She brought a loving energy to the set of Buffy," she wrote. "My thoughts are with Michelle’s family and friends.” Here's what to know about liver transplants.
Trachtenberg had recently undergone a liver transplant, a source told NBC New York. A liver transplant involves removing a liver that is no longer functioning and replacing it with a healthy liver. The new liver may come from a deceased donor, or from a portion of a liver donated by a living donor, according to the .
It is unknown which kind of transplant Trachtenberg had, or why she underwent the procedure. The liver is an essential organ that performs crucial functions including processing nutrients, removing bacteria and toxins from the blood, and preventing infection, according to the Mayo Clinic. People can have liver transplants for different reasons.
Some people need a transplant after experiencing chronic liver disease or, more rarely, sudden liver failure. The most common cause of chronic liver failure is cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, according to the Mayo Clinic. Cirrhosis can be caused by a number of conditions, including Hepatitis B and C, alcoholic liver disease, and genetic conditions that affect the liver.
People with certain cancers may also undergo a liver transplant. A liver transplant surgery can carry “significant complications,” according to the Mayo Clinic. These could include bleeding, blood clots, infection, confusion or seizures, or failure of the donated liver, among other complications.
About three quarters of people who receive a liver transplant live for at least five years, the Mayo Clinic says. Lindsay Lowe has been a regular contributor to TODAY.com since 2016, covering pop culture, style, home and other lifestyle topics.
She is also working on her first novel, a domestic drama set in rural Regency England..
