Organ transplantation and gender differences: a paradigmatic example of intertwining between biological and sociocultural determinants. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Puoti, Francesca; Ricci, Andrea; Nanni-Costa, Alessandro; Ricciardi, Walter; Malorni, Walter; Ortona, Elena
• Is Part Of: Biology of sex differences. Volume 7:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 5
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Transplantation -- Sex differences -- Gender differences; Biology -- Sex differences -- Periodicals; Sex factors in disease -- Research; Sex differences -- Research -- Periodicals; 612.6
• DOI: 10.1186/s13293-016-0088-4
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2042-6410

Abstract

Abstract Organ transplantation, e.g., of the heart, liver, or kidney, is nowadays a routine strategy to counteract several lethal human pathologies. From literature data and from data obtained in Italy, a striking scenario appears well evident: women are more often donors than recipients. On the other hand, recipients of organs are mainly males, probably reflecting a gender bias in the incidence of transplant-related pathologies. The impact of sex mismatch on transplant outcome remains debated, even though donor-recipient sex mismatch, due to biological matters, appears undesirable in female recipients. In our opinion, the analysis of how sex and gender can interact and affect grafting success could represent a mandatory task for the management of organ transplantation.