Heart transplants work better when sex based

William Atkins
Thursday, 13 November 2008 19:47

Science - Health

The researchers will investigate further the specific reasons why a same-gender-matched heart is better for the recipient than an opposite-gender-matched heart.

They surmise that a woman’s immune system is different from a man’s.

In addition, females have two X chromosomes while males have one X and one Y chromosome. Antigens, which trigger immune reactions, on the Y chromosome could add to higher rejection rates in female heart transplant patients.

However, currently the researchers do not know for sure the reasoning behind their results, and can only surmise why the difference occurs.

They do suggest that transplant hospitals match donors and recipients by gender when the cases allow.

However, they admit there it is generally better to perform a transplant with an opposite-gender heart than to extend the time a patient has before a heart transplant.

Weiss states that patients “… are still much better off receiving an organ than trying to live with end-stage heart failure, whether [the heart] is from a male or female.” [Science News]