Large scale pedigree analysis leads to evidence for founder effects of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)

J Med Primatol. 2014 Aug;43(4):288-291. doi: 10.1111/jmp.12127.

Abstract

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the abnormal thickening of the ventricles and an increase in cardiac mass. Analyses of 108 rhesus macaque probands with pronounced HCM revealed a strong genetic predisposition to this disease. Macaques are ideal for investigating HCM because of their marked similarity to humans genetically, physiologically and anatomically.

Keywords: Genetic disease; heart disease; left ventricular hypertrophy; nonhuman primates.