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Table 1 Sex differences in adverse reactions, immune responses, and efficacy of vaccines and antiviral drugs in humans

From: Impact of sex and gender on COVID-19 outcomes in Europe

Virus

Antiviral drug/vaccine

Sex-specific features

Comments

References

HIV

HAART

M < F

CD4+ T cell count, adverse reactions, fat accumulation, drug concentration, virus clearance, hepatitis

[102,103,104,105,106,107,108]

 

HAART

M > F

Fat loss, survival

[103, 109]

HSV-2

HSV-2 gD vaccine

M < F

Humoral immune responses, cell-mediated immune responses, vaccine efficacy

[110,111,112]

 

Acyclovir

M < F

Frequency of prescription, adverse reaction

[113, 114]

 

Acyclovir

M > F

Reduction of virus shedding

[114]

HBV

HBV vaccine

M < F

Humoral immune responses

[115,116,117,118]

HCV

Pegylated interferon alpha/ribavirin

M < F

Adverse reaction, sustained virologic response1

[119,120,121]

Seasonal influenza viruses

TIV vaccine

M < F

Humoral immune responses, adverse reactions

[122,123,124,125]

 

Oseltamivir

M < F

Drug clearance and metabolism2

[126]

 

Oseltamivir

M > F

Alleviation of symptoms, reduction of viral load

[127]

 

Zanamivir

M = F

Alleviation of symptoms, reduction of viral load

[127]

  1. HAART highly active antiretroviral therapy, HBV hepatitis B virus, HCV hepatitis C virus, HIV human immunodeficiency virus, HSV herpes simplex virus, TIV trivalent inactivated influenza virus. 1premenopausal females only, 2tested in neonates only