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Gender-medicine aspects in allergology
E Jensen-Jarolim1, E Untersmayr
1Department of Pathophysiology, Center of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Immunology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Allergy
|April 9, 2008
Summary
Women face a higher risk of atopic disorders like asthma and food allergies after adolescence. Sex hormones significantly influence these allergies, impacting women
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Allergology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Immediate-type allergies share immunological mechanisms in males and females, yet clinical presentation differs significantly.
- While boys have a higher childhood allergy risk, women experience increased atopic disorders from adolescence onwards.
- Conditions like asthma, food allergies, and anaphylaxis are more prevalent in females.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the gender-specific differences in allergic diseases.
- To investigate the role of sex hormones in the exacerbation and development of allergies in women.
- To raise awareness regarding the underrecognized gender bias in allergic diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical observations and epidemiological data on allergy prevalence in different genders.
- Analysis of associations between allergic conditions and hormonal factors such as menstruation, contraception, pregnancy, and hormone replacement therapy.
- Discussion of potential mechanisms, including oestradiol-receptor-dependent mast-cell activation and hypersensitivity to sex hormones.
Main Results:
- Asthma and hay fever are linked to irregular menstruation in women.
- Hormonal influences are evident through associations with contraceptive use, pregnancy exacerbations, and increased symptoms in peri- and postmenopausal women.
- Women can develop hypersensitivity to oestrogen and progesterone, which is linked to recurrent miscarriages.
Conclusions:
- Sex hormones play a critical role in the gender disparity observed in atopic disorders.
- Understanding these hormonal influences is crucial for managing allergies, particularly in women.
- There is a need for increased public and clinical awareness of the gender-specific aspects of allergic diseases.
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