Influence of donor and recipient gender on cardiac allograft vasculopathy. An intravascular ultrasound study.
BACKGROUND
Cardiac allograft vasculopathy remains the leading limitation to long-term survival after cardiac transplantation. While the influence of donor and recipient gender in the pathogenesis of cardiac vasculopathy is still poorly understood, studies have indicated that female allografts may be at higher risk for the development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy. The purpose of this study was to characterize the influence of donor and recipient gender on the early genesis of cardiac allograft vasculopathy by using intravascular ultrasound.


RESULTS
Thirty-six consecutive cardiac transplant recipients were divided into three groups on the basis of donor and recipient gender as follows: group 1, female donor and male recipient (n = 8); group 2, male donor and female recipient (n = 7); and group 3, male donor and male recipient (n = 21). The three groups were similar with regard to donor and recipient age, weight, body surface area, serum lipids, left ventricular function, histocompatibility, cellular and vascular rejection, and cytomegalovirus infection. To precisely quantitate the extent of cardiac allograft vasculopathy, intravascular ultrasound was performed in all patients at the time of first annual angiography. Intimal thickening and intimal index were accurately quantitated by intravascular ultrasound. Intimal thickening was significantly greater in group 1 (0.55 +/- 0.15 mm) than in group 2 (0.18 +/- 0.04 mm) or group 3 (0.29 +/- 0.05 mm) (P < .05). In addition, the intimal index was greater in group 1 (0.20 +/- 0.04) than in group 2 (0.07 +/- 0.02) or group 3 (0.15 +/- 0.02) (P < .01, group 1 versus group 2).


CONCLUSIONS
Male recipients of female allografts have a higher degree of vascular intimal hyperplasia detected by intravascular ultrasound at 1 year after heart transplantation. These findings indicate that donor and recipient gender influences the early genesis of cardiac allograft vasculopathy.
Mehra
M R
MR
Department of Internal Medicine, Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans, LA 70121.
Stapleton
D D
DD
Ventura
H O
HO
Escobar
A
A
Cassidy
C A
CA
Smart
F W
FW
Collins
T J
TJ
Ramee
S R
SR
White
C J
CJ
D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000453:epidemiology; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional