Åsa Tivesten, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg (photo: Johan Wingborg)

Testosterone worsens the damage caused by a heart attack by increasing the number of white blood cells released from the bone marrow. This is shown in a study from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The findings may have implications for the treatment of heart attacks in both men and women.

The study is published in Nature Communications and may explain why damage to the heart muscle after a heart attack is more extensive in men than women. The research was conducted in animal models and by using patient data from a clinical trial. The results highlight the damage to the heart caused by inflammation and are relevant for ongoing studies of anti-inflammatory drugs to treat heart attacks.