Gender disparities in ocular inflammatory disorders

Curr Eye Res. 2015 Feb;40(2):146-61. doi: 10.3109/02713683.2014.932388. Epub 2014 Jul 2.

Abstract

Ocular inflammatory disorders disproportionately affect women, and the majority of affected women are of childbearing age. The role of sex or reproductive hormones has been proposed in many other inflammatory or autoimmune disorders, and findings from non-ocular autoimmune diseases suggest a complex interaction between sex hormones, genetic factors and the immune system. However, despite the age and sex bias, factors that influence this disparity are complicated and unclear. This review aims to evaluate the gender disparities in prevalence, incidence and severity of the most common infectious and non-infectious ocular inflammatory disorders.

Keywords: Disparity; gender; ocular inflammation; sex; uveitis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Autoimmune Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / physiology
  • Health Status Disparities*
  • Humans
  • Immune System / physiology
  • Male
  • Sex Factors*
  • Uveitis / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones