Heart disease is common in humans and chimpanzees, but is caused by different pathological processes

Bibliographic Collection: 
CARTA-Inspired Publication, APE
Publication Type: Journal Article
Authors: Nissi M Varki; Anderson, Dan; Herndon, James G.; Pham, Tho; Gregg, Christopher J.; Cheriyan, Monica; Murphy, James; Strobert, Elizabeth; Fritz, Jo; Else, James G.; Ajit Varki
Year of Publication: 2009
Journal: Evol Appl
Volume: 2
Issue: 1
Number: 1
Pagination: 101-112
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Type of Article: Article
Publication Language: eng
ISBN Number: 17524563
Keywords: atherosclerosis, CARDIOLOGY, Chimpanzees, CORONARY arteries, Evolution, great ape, HEART -- Diseases, heart attacks, heart disease, heart failure, hominids, myocardial fibrosis, MYOCARDIAL infarction
Abstract:

Heart disease is common in both humans and chimpanzees, manifesting typically as sudden cardiac arrest or progressive heart failure. Surprisingly, although chimpanzees are our closest evolutionary relatives, the major cause of heart disease is different in the two species. Histopathology data of affected chimpanzee hearts from two primate centers, and analysis of literature indicate that sudden death in chimpanzees (and in gorillas and orangutans) is commonly associated with diffuse interstitial myocardial fibrosis of unknown cause. In contrast, most human heart disease results from coronary artery atherosclerosis, which occludes myocardial blood supply, causing ischemic damage. The typical myocardial infarction of humans due to coronary artery thrombosis is rare in these apes, despite their human-like coronary-risk-prone blood lipid profiles. Instead, chimpanzee ‘heart attacks’ are likely due to arrythmias triggered by myocardial fibrosis. Why do humans not often suffer from the fibrotic heart disease so common in our closest evolutionary cousins? Conversely, why do chimpanzees not have the kind of heart disease so common in humans? The answers could be of value to medical care, as well as to understanding human evolution. A preliminary attempt is made to explore possibilities at the histological level, with a focus on glycosylation changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]Copyright of Evolutionary Applications is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Notes:

Evol Appl 2:1:101-112 doi 10.1111/j.1752-4571.2008.00064.x  published online 27 Jan 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-4571.2008.00064.x
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