Una princesa egipcia, primera afectada por arterosclerosis en la historia
El descubrimiento se presenta este martes en la Conferencia Internacional de Imagen Cardiovascular No-Invasiva
La princesa egipcia Ahmose-Meryet-Amon, que vivió en Tebas (Luxor) entre 1580 y 1550 a.C, es la primera persona en la historia de la humanidad diagnosticada de enfermedad arterial coronaria. Pero, a diferencia de los pacientes actuales, lo suyo no tenía nada que ver ni con el tabaco ni con la ingesta de comida «basura». De hecho, llevaba una dieta rica en frutas, verduras, tomaba carne con moderación y su estilo de vida parecía activo.
Las arterias coronarias de la princesa egipcia, visualizadas a través de una tomografía computerizada (TC) de todo el cuerpo, se pueden ver en dos presentaciones que se desarrollarán en el marco de la Conferencia Internacional de Imagen Cardiovascular No-Invasiva (ICNC, en inglés), que se celebra hasta mañana en Ámsterdam.
Ambas presentaciones se basan en los descubrimientos del estudio «Horus», que analizó la aterosclerosis de 52 momias egipcias. En 44 de ellas se pudieron reconocer todavía las arterias y en 16 el corazón. La calcificación arterial (un marcador de la aterosclerosis) estaba presente en 20 de las momias escaneadas (que rondaban los 45 años de edad), lo que hizo pensar a los investigadores que este problema de salud era común en los egipcios de mediana edad.
Aunque relativamente común en otros puntos vasculares, la aterosclerosis en las arterias coronarias fue evidente sólo en tres de las momias investigadas, pero se pudo visualizar con claridad en la princesa Ahmose-Meryet-Amon, en quien las calcificaciones estaban presentes en cada lecho vascular que se visualizó con esta técnica.
Un «by-pass» para vivir
El escáner por TC mostró también que la princesa, que murió al cumplir los 40 años, tenía aterosclerosis en dos de sus tres arterias coronarias principales. Según el co-autor principal de este estudio, Gregory S. Thomas, director de Educación en Cardiología Nuclear de la Universidad de California, en Estados Unidos, "en la actualidad, la princesa habría necesitado una operación de 'by-pass'" "Sobre todo -señala- es sorprendente la cantidad de aterosclerosis que hemos encontrado".
"Pensamos en la aterosclerosis como una enfermedad propia del estilo de vida moderno, pero está claro que también existía hace 3.500 años. Nuestros descubrimientos, ciertamente, ponen en tela de juicio la percepción de la aterosclerosis como una enfermedad moderna", asevera.
Posibles causas de su enfermedad
Sin embargo, si la princesa llevaba una dieta aparentemente sana y un estilo de vida probablemente activo, ¿cómo pudo esta 'enfermedad de la vida moderna' afectarla de forma tan notable?. El doctor Thomas y el co-autor de este trabajo, Adel Allam, de la Universidad Al Azhar, en El Cairo (Egipto) sugieren tres posibilidades. La primera es que podría existir todavía algún factor de riesgo desconocido para la enfermedad cardiovascular o al menos un vínculo que aún no comprendemos. El doctor Allam señala un probable efecto de la herencia genética, apuntando que parte de la predisposición humana frente a la aterosclerosis podría derivarse de los genes.
Asimismo, Allam sugiere la posibilidad de que una respuesta inflamatoria a las frecuentes infecciones parasitarias, comunes en el antiguo Egipto, podrían haber predispuesto a la aparición de enfermedades coronarias, de una forma similar a la que los casos de VIH inmunocomprometidos parecen también predispuestos a sufrir enfermedades coronarias tempranas. Sin embargo, los investigadores no excluyen los posibles efectos de la dieta, pese a lo que conocemos del antiguo Egipto.
La princesa Ahmose-Meryet-Amon procedía de una familia noble y su padre, Seqenenre Tao II, era el último faraón de la Dinastía número 17. Por ello, es probable que su dieta no estuviera compuesta solamente de los productos que comían los egipcios del pueblo. Como miembro de la realeza, podría haber consumido más platos de lujo, con más carne, mantequilla y queso. Además, la comida se conservaba en sal, lo que podría tener un efecto negativo sobre su salud.
http://www.abc.es/20110517/sociedad/abci-princesa-egipcia-aterosclerosis-201105171732.html
El descubrimiento se presenta este martes en la Conferencia Internacional de Imagen Cardiovascular No-Invasiva
La princesa egipcia Ahmose-Meryet-Amon, que vivió en Tebas (Luxor) entre 1580 y 1550 a.C, es la primera persona en la historia de la humanidad diagnosticada de enfermedad arterial coronaria. Pero, a diferencia de los pacientes actuales, lo suyo no tenía nada que ver ni con el tabaco ni con la ingesta de comida «basura». De hecho, llevaba una dieta rica en frutas, verduras, tomaba carne con moderación y su estilo de vida parecía activo.
Las arterias coronarias de la princesa egipcia, visualizadas a través de una tomografía computerizada (TC) de todo el cuerpo, se pueden ver en dos presentaciones que se desarrollarán en el marco de la Conferencia Internacional de Imagen Cardiovascular No-Invasiva (ICNC, en inglés), que se celebra hasta mañana en Ámsterdam.
Ambas presentaciones se basan en los descubrimientos del estudio «Horus», que analizó la aterosclerosis de 52 momias egipcias. En 44 de ellas se pudieron reconocer todavía las arterias y en 16 el corazón. La calcificación arterial (un marcador de la aterosclerosis) estaba presente en 20 de las momias escaneadas (que rondaban los 45 años de edad), lo que hizo pensar a los investigadores que este problema de salud era común en los egipcios de mediana edad.
Aunque relativamente común en otros puntos vasculares, la aterosclerosis en las arterias coronarias fue evidente sólo en tres de las momias investigadas, pero se pudo visualizar con claridad en la princesa Ahmose-Meryet-Amon, en quien las calcificaciones estaban presentes en cada lecho vascular que se visualizó con esta técnica.
Un «by-pass» para vivir
El escáner por TC mostró también que la princesa, que murió al cumplir los 40 años, tenía aterosclerosis en dos de sus tres arterias coronarias principales. Según el co-autor principal de este estudio, Gregory S. Thomas, director de Educación en Cardiología Nuclear de la Universidad de California, en Estados Unidos, "en la actualidad, la princesa habría necesitado una operación de 'by-pass'" "Sobre todo -señala- es sorprendente la cantidad de aterosclerosis que hemos encontrado".
"Pensamos en la aterosclerosis como una enfermedad propia del estilo de vida moderno, pero está claro que también existía hace 3.500 años. Nuestros descubrimientos, ciertamente, ponen en tela de juicio la percepción de la aterosclerosis como una enfermedad moderna", asevera.
Posibles causas de su enfermedad
Sin embargo, si la princesa llevaba una dieta aparentemente sana y un estilo de vida probablemente activo, ¿cómo pudo esta 'enfermedad de la vida moderna' afectarla de forma tan notable?. El doctor Thomas y el co-autor de este trabajo, Adel Allam, de la Universidad Al Azhar, en El Cairo (Egipto) sugieren tres posibilidades. La primera es que podría existir todavía algún factor de riesgo desconocido para la enfermedad cardiovascular o al menos un vínculo que aún no comprendemos. El doctor Allam señala un probable efecto de la herencia genética, apuntando que parte de la predisposición humana frente a la aterosclerosis podría derivarse de los genes.
Asimismo, Allam sugiere la posibilidad de que una respuesta inflamatoria a las frecuentes infecciones parasitarias, comunes en el antiguo Egipto, podrían haber predispuesto a la aparición de enfermedades coronarias, de una forma similar a la que los casos de VIH inmunocomprometidos parecen también predispuestos a sufrir enfermedades coronarias tempranas. Sin embargo, los investigadores no excluyen los posibles efectos de la dieta, pese a lo que conocemos del antiguo Egipto.
La princesa Ahmose-Meryet-Amon procedía de una familia noble y su padre, Seqenenre Tao II, era el último faraón de la Dinastía número 17. Por ello, es probable que su dieta no estuviera compuesta solamente de los productos que comían los egipcios del pueblo. Como miembro de la realeza, podría haber consumido más platos de lujo, con más carne, mantequilla y queso. Además, la comida se conservaba en sal, lo que podría tener un efecto negativo sobre su salud.
http://www.abc.es/20110517/sociedad/abci-princesa-egipcia-aterosclerosis-201105171732.html
Egyptian princess was first person with diagnosed coronary artery disease
The coronary arteries of Princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon -- visualized by whole body computerized tomography scanning
Embargo: 17 May 2011 18:00 CET -- The coronary arteries of Princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon - as visualised by whole body computerised tomography (CT) scanning - will feature in two presentations at the International Conference of Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Imaging (ICNC) this week in Amsterdam (15-18 May). ICNC is now one of the world's major scientific event in nuclear cardiology and cardiac CT imaging.
The Egyptian princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon, who lived in Thebes (Luxor) between 1580 and 1550 BC and who is now known to be first person in human history with diagnosed coronary artery disease, lived on a diet rich in vegetables, fruit and a limited amount of meat from domesticated (but not fattened) animals. Wheat and barley were grown along the banks of the Nile, making bread and beer the dietary staples of this period of ancient Egypt. Tobacco and trans-fats were unknown, and lifestyle was likely to have been active.
The coronary arteries of Princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon - as visualised by whole body computerised tomography (CT) scanning - will feature in two presentations at the International Conference of Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Imaging (ICNC) currently taking place in Amsterdam (15-18 May). ICNC is now one of the world's major scientific event in nuclear cardiology and cardiac CT imaging.
Both presentations will be based on findings from the Horus study, in which arterial atherosclerosis was investigated in 52 ancient Egyptian mummies. Results have shown that recognisable arteries were present in 44 of the mummies, with an identifiable heart present in 16. Arterial calcification (as a marker of atherosclerosis) was evident at a variety of sites in almost half the mummies scanned, prompting the investigators to note that the condition was common in this group of middle aged or older ancient Egyptians; the 20 mummies with definite atherosclerosis were older (mean 45.years) than those with intact vascular tissue but no atherosclerosis (34.5 years).
Although relatively common at other vascular sites, atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries was evident in only three of the mummies investigated, but was clearly visualised in Princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon (in whom calcification was present in every vascular bed visualised).
The CT scan image below shows that the princess, who died in her 40s, had atherosclerosis in two of her three main coronary arteries. "Today," said Dr Gregory S Thomas, director of Nuclear Cardiology Education at the University of California, Irvine, USA, and co-principal investigator of the Horus study, "she would have needed by-pass surgery."
"Overall, it was striking how much atherosclerosis we found," said Dr Thomas. "We think of atherosclerosis as a disease of modern lifestyle, but it's clear that it also existed 3500 years ago. Our findings certainly call into question the perception of atherosclerosis as a modern disease."
If, however, the princess enjoyed a diet deemed to be healthy and pursued a lifestyle probably active, how could this "disease of modern life" affect her so visibly? Dr Thomas and his co-principal investigator Dr Adel Allam of Al Azhar University, Cairo, suggest three possibilities.
First, that there is still some unknown risk factor for cardiovascular disease, or at least a missing link in our understanding of it. Dr Allam noted a likely effect of genetic inheritance, pointing out that much of the human predisposition to atherosclerosis could be secondary to their genes. He similarly raised the possibility that an inflammatory response to the frequent parasitic infections common to ancient Egyptians might predispose to coronary disease - in much the same way that immunocompromised HIV cases seem also predisposed to early coronary disease. Nor can a dietary effect be excluded, despite what we know of life in ancient Egypt. Princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon was from a noble family, her father, Seqenenre Tao II, the last pharaoh of the 17th Dynasty.
So it's likely that her diet was not that of the common Egyptian. As a royal, she would have eaten more luxury foods - more meat, butter and cheese. Moreover, foods were preserved in salt, which may also have had an adverse effect.
Despite the suggestion of a genetic, inflammatory or unknown effect, Drs Thomas and Allam were keen not to discount those risk factors for heart disease which we do know about. Indeed, even in the study's apparent association of atheroma with increasing age, there was a pattern of prevalence consistent with our own epidemiology today. "Recent studies have shown that by not smoking, having a lower blood pressure and a lower cholesterol level, calcification of our arteries is delayed," said co-investigator Dr Randall C Thompson of the St Luke's Mid-America Heart Institute in Kansas City, USA. "On the other hand, from what we can tell from this study, humans are predisposed to atherosclerosis, so it behoves us to take the proper measures necessary to delay it as long as we can."
###
Most of the Horus study research was performed at the National Museum of Antiquities in Cairo and would not have been possible without the availability of non-invasive CT scanning, the focus of the ICNC congress in Amsterdam. CT scanning and nuclear medicine imaging are the cornerstones of modern quantifiable cardiac disease detection, with safe and reproducible results.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-05/esoc-epw051611.php
The coronary arteries of Princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon -- visualized by whole body computerized tomography scanning
Embargo: 17 May 2011 18:00 CET -- The coronary arteries of Princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon - as visualised by whole body computerised tomography (CT) scanning - will feature in two presentations at the International Conference of Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Imaging (ICNC) this week in Amsterdam (15-18 May). ICNC is now one of the world's major scientific event in nuclear cardiology and cardiac CT imaging.
The Egyptian princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon, who lived in Thebes (Luxor) between 1580 and 1550 BC and who is now known to be first person in human history with diagnosed coronary artery disease, lived on a diet rich in vegetables, fruit and a limited amount of meat from domesticated (but not fattened) animals. Wheat and barley were grown along the banks of the Nile, making bread and beer the dietary staples of this period of ancient Egypt. Tobacco and trans-fats were unknown, and lifestyle was likely to have been active.
The coronary arteries of Princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon - as visualised by whole body computerised tomography (CT) scanning - will feature in two presentations at the International Conference of Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Imaging (ICNC) currently taking place in Amsterdam (15-18 May). ICNC is now one of the world's major scientific event in nuclear cardiology and cardiac CT imaging.
Both presentations will be based on findings from the Horus study, in which arterial atherosclerosis was investigated in 52 ancient Egyptian mummies. Results have shown that recognisable arteries were present in 44 of the mummies, with an identifiable heart present in 16. Arterial calcification (as a marker of atherosclerosis) was evident at a variety of sites in almost half the mummies scanned, prompting the investigators to note that the condition was common in this group of middle aged or older ancient Egyptians; the 20 mummies with definite atherosclerosis were older (mean 45.years) than those with intact vascular tissue but no atherosclerosis (34.5 years).
Although relatively common at other vascular sites, atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries was evident in only three of the mummies investigated, but was clearly visualised in Princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon (in whom calcification was present in every vascular bed visualised).
The CT scan image below shows that the princess, who died in her 40s, had atherosclerosis in two of her three main coronary arteries. "Today," said Dr Gregory S Thomas, director of Nuclear Cardiology Education at the University of California, Irvine, USA, and co-principal investigator of the Horus study, "she would have needed by-pass surgery."
"Overall, it was striking how much atherosclerosis we found," said Dr Thomas. "We think of atherosclerosis as a disease of modern lifestyle, but it's clear that it also existed 3500 years ago. Our findings certainly call into question the perception of atherosclerosis as a modern disease."
If, however, the princess enjoyed a diet deemed to be healthy and pursued a lifestyle probably active, how could this "disease of modern life" affect her so visibly? Dr Thomas and his co-principal investigator Dr Adel Allam of Al Azhar University, Cairo, suggest three possibilities.
First, that there is still some unknown risk factor for cardiovascular disease, or at least a missing link in our understanding of it. Dr Allam noted a likely effect of genetic inheritance, pointing out that much of the human predisposition to atherosclerosis could be secondary to their genes. He similarly raised the possibility that an inflammatory response to the frequent parasitic infections common to ancient Egyptians might predispose to coronary disease - in much the same way that immunocompromised HIV cases seem also predisposed to early coronary disease. Nor can a dietary effect be excluded, despite what we know of life in ancient Egypt. Princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon was from a noble family, her father, Seqenenre Tao II, the last pharaoh of the 17th Dynasty.
So it's likely that her diet was not that of the common Egyptian. As a royal, she would have eaten more luxury foods - more meat, butter and cheese. Moreover, foods were preserved in salt, which may also have had an adverse effect.
Despite the suggestion of a genetic, inflammatory or unknown effect, Drs Thomas and Allam were keen not to discount those risk factors for heart disease which we do know about. Indeed, even in the study's apparent association of atheroma with increasing age, there was a pattern of prevalence consistent with our own epidemiology today. "Recent studies have shown that by not smoking, having a lower blood pressure and a lower cholesterol level, calcification of our arteries is delayed," said co-investigator Dr Randall C Thompson of the St Luke's Mid-America Heart Institute in Kansas City, USA. "On the other hand, from what we can tell from this study, humans are predisposed to atherosclerosis, so it behoves us to take the proper measures necessary to delay it as long as we can."
###
Most of the Horus study research was performed at the National Museum of Antiquities in Cairo and would not have been possible without the availability of non-invasive CT scanning, the focus of the ICNC congress in Amsterdam. CT scanning and nuclear medicine imaging are the cornerstones of modern quantifiable cardiac disease detection, with safe and reproducible results.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-05/esoc-epw051611.php
Egyptian mummy 'first to have diseased heart'By Jane Dreaper
Health correspondent, BBC News
An Egyptian princess who lived 3,500 years ago is thought to be the first known person to have developed heart disease, say researchers.
Doctors believe the princess would have needed a heart bypass if she were living now.
Scans showed she had extensive blockages in arteries leading to her heart, brain, stomach and legs.
Computerised tomography (CT) scanning showed evidence of heart disease The researchers say her case shows heart disease pre-dates a modern lifestyle.
Cardiac researchers from the US teamed up with colleagues at Al Azhar University in Cairo to analyse the remains of 52 mummies, including those of the princess.
They performed full-body scans on mummies at the National Museum of Antiquities in Cairo.
They had found evidence of hardening of the arteries in almost half the mummies scanned, researchers told a medical conference in Amsterdam.
Noble roots
Princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon was from an illustrious Egyptian family. She lived in what is now Luxor from the year 1580 BC, and died in her 40s.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
Her diet was significantly healthier than ours”
End Quote
Dr Gregory Thomas
University of California
Dr Gregory Thomas, from the University of California, said: "There was no gas or electricity at that time, so presumably she had an active lifestyle.
"Her diet was significantly healthier than ours. She would have eaten fruit and vegetables - and fish were plentiful in the Nile at that time.
"The food would have been organic - and there were no trans-fats or tobacco available then.
"Yet, she had these blockages. This suggests to us that there's a missing risk factor for heart disease - something that causes it that we don't yet know enough about."
The researchers say the findings should not detract from the importance of messages about healthy diet and lifestyle.
Inside view
Dr Thomas said: "Some people have suggested that a burger chain is sponsoring our expeditions to Egypt. That's not true at all.
"We're simply saying that our Egyptian princess from 3,500 years ago shows that heart disease can be a part of being human.
"While we should do everything we can that is known to prevent problems, there's no point in blaming yourself if you need a heart operation."
The team's work is now on hold because of the unrest in Egypt, but they hope to be able to stage further research expeditions if the new government gives them permission.
Dr Thomas said: "I was pinching myself at how lucky I was - being able to pick out a sarcophagus, and then have the Egyptian team take out a mummy, perhaps for the first time in 3,000 years, and take it to the scanner for us so we could look at their insides."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13422630
Health correspondent, BBC News
An Egyptian princess who lived 3,500 years ago is thought to be the first known person to have developed heart disease, say researchers.
Doctors believe the princess would have needed a heart bypass if she were living now.
Scans showed she had extensive blockages in arteries leading to her heart, brain, stomach and legs.
Computerised tomography (CT) scanning showed evidence of heart disease The researchers say her case shows heart disease pre-dates a modern lifestyle.
Cardiac researchers from the US teamed up with colleagues at Al Azhar University in Cairo to analyse the remains of 52 mummies, including those of the princess.
They performed full-body scans on mummies at the National Museum of Antiquities in Cairo.
They had found evidence of hardening of the arteries in almost half the mummies scanned, researchers told a medical conference in Amsterdam.
Noble roots
Princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon was from an illustrious Egyptian family. She lived in what is now Luxor from the year 1580 BC, and died in her 40s.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
Her diet was significantly healthier than ours”
End Quote
Dr Gregory Thomas
University of California
Dr Gregory Thomas, from the University of California, said: "There was no gas or electricity at that time, so presumably she had an active lifestyle.
"Her diet was significantly healthier than ours. She would have eaten fruit and vegetables - and fish were plentiful in the Nile at that time.
"The food would have been organic - and there were no trans-fats or tobacco available then.
"Yet, she had these blockages. This suggests to us that there's a missing risk factor for heart disease - something that causes it that we don't yet know enough about."
The researchers say the findings should not detract from the importance of messages about healthy diet and lifestyle.
Inside view
Dr Thomas said: "Some people have suggested that a burger chain is sponsoring our expeditions to Egypt. That's not true at all.
"We're simply saying that our Egyptian princess from 3,500 years ago shows that heart disease can be a part of being human.
"While we should do everything we can that is known to prevent problems, there's no point in blaming yourself if you need a heart operation."
The team's work is now on hold because of the unrest in Egypt, but they hope to be able to stage further research expeditions if the new government gives them permission.
Dr Thomas said: "I was pinching myself at how lucky I was - being able to pick out a sarcophagus, and then have the Egyptian team take out a mummy, perhaps for the first time in 3,000 years, and take it to the scanner for us so we could look at their insides."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13422630
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