Spontaneous hypertension and its sequelae in woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha)

Arteriolar nephrosclerosis was observed at necropsy in 26 of 38 woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha). This lesion is the earliest histologic change associated with hypertension in humans. Seventeen of the monkeys had died of congestive heart failure, renal failure or acute cardiovascular accident, complications similar to those seen in human hypertension. All monkeys known to be over 4 years of age were affected. Direct blood pressure measurements in nine otherwise healthy woolly monkeys revealed systolic pressures of 194 +/- 20 mmHg. Our physiologic, clinical and pathologic studies suggest that woolly monkeys develop hypertension spontaneously and could be a useful model for the study of human hypertension.