Interstitial Lung Diseases and the Impact of Gender

Theodoros Karampitsakos; Ourania Papaioannou; Matthaios Katsaras; Fotios Sampsonas; Argyris Tzouvelekis

doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2021.04.011

Interstitial Lung Diseases and the Impact of Gender

Clin Chest Med. 2021 Sep;42(3):531-541. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2021.04.011.

Authors

Theodoros Karampitsakos¹, Ourania Papaioannou¹, Matthaios Katsaras¹, Fotios Sampsonas¹, Argyris Tzouvelekis²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, Greece.
² Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, Greece.. Electronic address: argyrios.tzouvelekis@fleming.gr.

PMID: 34353457
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2021.04.011

Abstract

Interstitial lung diseases encompass an amalgamated group of heterogeneous lung disorders, characterized by variable clinical and radiologic patterns. Despite an increase in our knowledge, pathogenesis of interstitial lung diseases remains largely unknown. Experimental evidence on the role of sex hormones in lung development and epidemiologic associations of gender differences with interstitial lung diseases prevalence fueled studies investigating the role of gender and sex hormones in the pathogenesis and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. This review summarizes experimental and clinical data for the impact of gender and sex hormones on interstitial lung diseases and highlights future perspectives in the field.

Keywords: Gender; Interstitial lung diseases; Pulmonary fibrosis; Sex hormones.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Lung
Lung Diseases, Interstitial* / diagnosis
Lung Diseases, Interstitial* / epidemiology
Lung Diseases, Interstitial* / therapy
Pulmonary Fibrosis*