Impact of donor and recipient sex on outcome

Sebastian Michel1, Bruno Meiser, Ingo Kaczmarek

  • 1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich Medical Center, Munich, Germany.

Insights

Donor and recipient sex significantly impacts heart transplant outcomes. Male recipients with female donors face higher early mortality, while female recipients show better long-term survival, particularly with female donors.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Transplantation Immunology
  • Medical Research

Background:

  • The influence of donor and recipient sex on heart transplantation (HTx) outcomes remains a subject of debate.
  • Understanding these sex-based dynamics is crucial for optimizing post-transplant results.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on the impact of donor and recipient sex on heart transplantation outcomes.
  • To clarify controversial aspects regarding sex matching in HTx.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of recent literature.
  • Analysis of outcomes based on donor-recipient sex combinations.

Main Results:

  • A male recipient/female donor combination is associated with increased early mortality after HTx.
  • Female recipients demonstrate superior long-term survival, especially when receiving hearts from female donors.
  • Female recipients of male donor hearts experience more cellular rejection episodes, though this does not negate their superior long-term survival.

Conclusions:

  • While sex matching in HTx is ideal, it may not always be feasible without extending wait times.
  • The combination of a female donor and a male recipient warrants careful consideration and evaluation due to potential risks.
Abstract

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