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Optimization of the Cuff Technique for Murine Heart Transplantation
Published on: June 26, 2020
The role of gender in heart transplantation
T W Prendergast1, S Furukawa, A J Beyer
1Section of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, Temple University Health Sciences Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Insights
Donor-recipient gender matching significantly impacts heart transplantation (HT) outcomes. Mismatching increases rejection episodes and reduces survival, highlighting the importance of gender compatibility in HT success.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Transplantation Immunology
- Medical Science
Background:
- The influence of donor and recipient gender on heart transplantation (HT) outcomes is not well-established.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for optimizing post-transplant results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of donor-recipient gender matching on short- and long-term outcomes following heart transplantation.
- To identify specific effects of gender compatibility on patient recovery and survival.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 174 heart transplant recipients was analyzed.
- Patients were stratified into four groups based on donor and recipient gender.
- Outcomes including rejection episodes, creatinine clearance, and survival rates were compared between groups.
Main Results:
- Donor-recipient gender mismatching was associated with a significant increase in rejection episodes and reduced creatinine clearance in the first year post-HT.
- Mismatching also led to significantly lower 1-year survival and censored survival rates.
- Specific adverse effects were observed in both female and male recipients experiencing gender mismatch.
Conclusions:
- Donor-recipient gender matching is a significant factor influencing heart transplantation outcomes.
- Optimizing gender compatibility in heart transplantation may improve patient survival and reduce complications.
Background:
The effect of donor and recipient gender on the outcome of heart transplantation (HT) remains uncertain.
Methods:
One hundred seventy-four patients who underwent HT were divided into four groups according to donor and recipient gender. Group A consisted of 81 men who received male donor hearts, group B of 18 women who received female donor hearts, group C of 21 women who received male donor hearts, and group D of 54 men who received female donor hearts. All patients were treated by the same group of surgeons according to standard HT protocols. Comparisons were made between groups with regard to short- and long-term outcomes.
Results:
Donor gender and recipient gender did not affect outcomes significantly. Overall, donor-recipient gender mismatching significantly increased the number of rejection episodes and reduced creatinine clearance, survival, and censored survival in the first year after HT (p < 0.05). More specifically, among female recipients, donor-recipient gender mismatching significantly increased the number of rejection episodes and decreased creatinine clearance in the first year after HT (p < 0.05); among male recipients, donor-recipient gender mismatching significantly reduced 1-year survival and censored survival to date after HT (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Donor-recipient gender matching plays a significant role in determining HT outcomes.

