title: The paleopathology of the cardiovascular system.
abstract: Paleopathology, the study of disease in ancient remains, adds the dimension of time to our study of health and disease. The oldest preserved heart is from a mummified rabbit of the Pleistocene epoch, over 20,000 years old. Cardiovascular disease has been identified in human mummies from Alaska and Egypt, covering a time span ranging from approximately 3,000 to 300 years ago. An experimental study suggests that the potential exists for identifying a wide range of cardiovascular pathologic conditions in mummified remains. The antiquity and ubiquity of arteriosclerotic heart disease is considered in terms of pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000473:pathology*; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004930:Inuit; D008297:Male; D009106:Mummies / Q000473:pathology*