Thursday 19 November 2020

Sex and Sars- CoV-2

I remember, doing studies years ago, when became clear that sex hormones had significant influences on the antibody responses produced by laboratory mice after challenge with Sheep Red Blood cells (SRBC). So it comes as no surprise to find that the immunological responses of male and female patients to a Sars-CoV-2 infection differ (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/18/covid-19-antibodies-fall-faster-in-men-than-women-study-suggests). Circulating antibody levels fell significantly more quickly in males (who are also twice as likely to die from the viral infection) than in females. This can be regarded as yet another refuting of the 'one size suits all' type of thinking that has been too pervasive in medicine. The observation has even led to suggestions that vaccines might produce different effects in men and women. Males might require booster doses for full protection. It should not be forgotten, however, that the immune system is quite complex. Although levels of circulating antibodies might fall, individuals may still be able to mount a rapid response to the virus via primed T- and B-cells (these are the white blood cells that produce antibodies and kill cells infected by the virus). Gender differences are, however, something that should be carefully considered. Are the new vaccines tested on equal numbers of male and female patients, in all age and ethnicity groups?

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