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Characterization of a Cardiorenal-like Syndrome in Aged Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)
Insights
Cardiorenal syndrome, characterized by heart dysfunction leading to kidney problems, was studied in chimpanzees. Findings revealed a strong link between cardiac fibrosis and kidney disease, mirroring human conditions.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Nephrology
Background:
- Cardiorenal syndrome describes heart disease causing progressive kidney dysfunction.
- Understanding this link is crucial for both human and animal health.
- Chimpanzees serve as a relevant model due to physiological similarities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cardiac and renal disease in aged chimpanzees.
- To evaluate the prevalence and association of cardiac and renal pathologies.
- To compare findings with human cardiorenal syndrome.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of medical histories, metabolic parameters, and cardiovascular function in 91 aged chimpanzees.
- Histopathological examination of heart and kidney tissues.
- Statistical analysis to determine associations between cardiac and renal findings.
Main Results:
- Cardiac fibrosis was found in 90% of animals; glomerulosclerosis with tubulointerstitial fibrosis in 69%.
- A significant association was observed between cardiac fibrosis and renal pathologies (63% of animals).
- Increased cardiac fibrosis severity correlated with increased renal disease severity.
Conclusions:
- Chimpanzees exhibit pathological findings similar to human cardiorenal syndrome.
- Cardiac fibrosis is strongly associated with glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis in this cohort.
- Concurrent heart and kidney failure were identified as causes of death, highlighting the syndrome's impact.
Abstract:
Cardiorenal syndrome involves disease and dysfunction of the heart that leads to progressive renal dysfunction. This study investigated the relationship between cardiac and renal disease in 91 aged chimpanzees at the Alamogordo Primate Facility by evaluation of the medical histories, metabolic parameters, functional measurements of the cardiovascular system, clinical pathology, and histopathology focused on the heart and kidney. Cardiac fibrosis was the most frequent microscopic finding in 82 of 91 animals (90%), followed by glomerulosclerosis with tubulointerstitial fibrosis in 63 of 91 (69%). Cardiac fibrosis with attendant glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis was observed in 58 of 91 animals (63%); there was a statistically significant association between the 2 conditions. As the severity of cardiac fibrosis increased, there was corresponding increase in severity of glomerulosclerosis with tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Altered metabolic, cardiovascular, and clinical pathology parameters indicative of heart and kidney failure were commonly associated with the moderate to severe microscopic changes, and concurrent heart and kidney failure were considered the cause of death. The constellation of findings in the chimpanzees were similar to cardiorenal syndrome in humans.
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