Hearts heal differently after kidney transplants in men and women
Sex differences in cardiac remodeling after kidney transplantation
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Men had lower baseline ejection fraction (EF) than women (54.54% vs. 64.47%) but showed greater improvement post-transplant.
Typically, higher baseline EF means less room to improve—but here, men started with weaker pumping and ended up with bigger gains. This contradicts the assumption that ‘better starting point = better recovery.’
Practical Takeaways
If you’re a kidney transplant patient, ask your cardiologist: 'Did my heart remodeling pattern match what’s typical for my sex?'
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Men had lower baseline ejection fraction (EF) than women (54.54% vs. 64.47%) but showed greater improvement post-transplant.
Typically, higher baseline EF means less room to improve—but here, men started with weaker pumping and ended up with bigger gains. This contradicts the assumption that ‘better starting point = better recovery.’
Practical Takeaways
If you’re a kidney transplant patient, ask your cardiologist: 'Did my heart remodeling pattern match what’s typical for my sex?'
Publication
Journal
BMC Nephrology
Year
2025
Authors
Oscar Orihuela Rodríguez, Héctor A. Carmona-Ruíz, R. E. Pérez, J. López, Carlos Blanco Mendez, Ian Isaac Morales Gudiño, Raquel A. González López, Itzel Quiñonez Orihuela, Ramón Paniagua Sierra
Related Content
Claims (5)
Women with kidney disease who are getting a new kidney tend to have bigger and less flexible heart chambers before the surgery than men, which might mean their hearts have been working harder for longer.
After a kidney transplant, men’s hearts tend to shrink back to a healthier size more than women’s hearts do over six months—even though men’s hearts were bigger to begin with—suggesting that men and women’s hearts respond differently to the transplant.
After getting a new kidney, women’s hearts show more improvement in a specific heart measurement than men’s, even though women started with a larger heart size — suggesting their hearts recover differently based on sex.
When adults with severe kidney disease get a new kidney, their heart often gets healthier—especially the thickened walls and enlarged chamber—but men and women don’t improve in exactly the same way or to the same degree.
After getting a new kidney, women’s hearts don’t shrink as much in size as men’s hearts do.