In general, donated organs can be transplanted into a recipient of either gender. 10) Is there a difference in the number of male organ donors to female donors?
Heart size varies by sex, and studies of heart transplantation have consistently observed reduced survival associated with donor organ sex mismatch, particularly for male recipients of female organs (3–9).
Turns out men and women really are different at heart: New research finds that heart transplant patients have better odds of survival and a lower risk of rejection if they get organs from donors of the same sex.
Long-term results of heart transplants are equal for both men and women.
Men and women who receive donated organs can have different rates of transplant rejection, in some cases influenced by the sex of the donor, according to a new study by investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH).
Organ donation is affected by legal, cultural, religious, and racial factors, as well as by health considerations. Although organs in and of themselves are gender neutral and can be exchanged between the sexes, women account for up to two thirds of all organ donations.
Although older studies suggest that female recipients of male livers may be predisposed to chronic rejection, in studies that include all liver conditions no definitive sex differences in risk of acute or chronic rejection have been demonstrated [29], [30], [31].
This difference is largely accounted for by the size of the heart, which is typically smaller in females than males. The smaller female heart, pumping less blood with each beat, needs to beat at a faster rate to match the larger male heart's output.
Sex differences in healthy heart geometry and function. The male heart has greater mass, volume, and cardiac output than the female heart, while the female heart has slightly greater ejection fractions and heart rate.
Six per cent (three patients) said their personalities had changed, and attributed it to their new hearts. Although the numbers are small, Liester said reports of personality changes after a heart transplant have existed for nearly 50 years.
Some common reasons why a heart transplant may not be the right treatment for you include: You are too ill or frail to cope with the surgery and aftercare. You have recently had cancer, a serious infection, or a stroke. You may struggle taking the immunosuppressant medicines after a heart transplant.
Overall health: Some health conditions might prevent or delay a heart transplant, such as active cancer, uncontrolled diabetes, obesity, or current alcohol or drug abuse. Support system: You will need help after your heart transplant. We help you identify people who can support you during recovery.
Heart-to-Heart program allows patients to hold their own hearts after transplant. For those who receive a heart transplant, they are considered the lucky ones.
Donor heart shortage.
Transplanting a heart requires a donor, and donors are in short supply. Plus, the donor and recipient must be a “match.” That means both people must have a compatible blood type and similar body size. Without this matching, the recipient's immune system is more likely to reject the donor's heart.
When treatments such as medicines or lifestyle changes stop working for someone with heart failure, a transplant may be the only option. However, there are never enough donor hearts for all the people waiting for a heart transplant. If you choose to become a heart donor when you die, you could be saving someone's life.
If the transplant center medical team determines that you're a good candidate for a heart transplant, the center will put you on a waiting list. The wait can be long since there are more people who need hearts than donors. Finding a donor depends on your size, your blood type and how sick you are.
In humans, the heart is roughly the size of a large fist and weighs between about 10 and 12 ounces (280 and 340 grams) in men, and between 8 and 10 ounces (230 and 280 grams) in women, according to Henry Gray's "Anatomy of the Human Body."
The female heart is also more sensitive to risk factors like drug use, high blood pressure, diabetes and cigarette smoking. Researchers like Velarde are beginning to probe into the biological difference between male and female hearts to better understand how to treat the female heart.
The heart is a complex organ that pumps blood throughout the body. It sits in the chest, slightly left of center, behind the breastbone, and between the lungs.
Men have larger hearts; women's hearts beat faster. Heart disease presents differently in men and women: men feel a crushing pain in their chest; 15% of women experience fleeting pain in the upper abdomen or back, nausea, shortness of breath, and sweating.
Recent studies suggest that this is caused, at least in part, by the lack of sex-specific diagnostic criteria. While it is widely recognized that the female heart is smaller than the male heart, it has long been ignored that it also has a different microstructural architecture.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, yet important differences exist between men and women. Men generally develop CVD at a younger age and have a higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) than women. Women, in contrast, are at a higher risk of stroke, which often occurs at older age.
You can give this lifesaving gift to a relative, a friend or even a stranger. Thousands of people in the United States are waiting for a liver from a deceased donor – but patients with a living donor have a much shorter wait time and a better chance for a successful liver transplant.
If a liver transplant candidate is eligible to receive from a living donor, then a family member, relative or close friend can be considered for donation. There are several requirements to becoming a living donor. If you meet the criteria below and are interested in living donor liver transplant, call 410-614-2989.
Living Donor Liver Transplant
Living donation is possible because the liver is the only organ that can regenerate itself. An adult may be able to donate a portion of their liver to a child or another adult.