Chronic anemia and effects of iron supplementation in a research colony of adult rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

摘要

A cohort of rhesus macaques used in neuroscience research was found at routine examinations to have chronic anemia (spun Hct less than 30%). Four anemic (Hct, 24.8%+or-3.4%) and 10 control (39.6%+or-2.9%) macaques were assessed to characterize the anemia and determine probable cause(s); some animals in both groups had cephalic implants. Diagnostic tests included CBC, bone marrow evaluations, iron panels, and serum erythropoietin and hepcidin concentrations. Serum iron and ferritin were 15.8+or-11.1 micro g/dL and 103.8+or-53.1 ng/mL, respectively, for the anemic group compared with 109.8+or-23.8 micro L/dL and 88.5+or-41.9 ng/mL, respectively, for the control group. Erythropoietin levels were 16.2 to over 100 mU/mL for the anemic macaques compared with 0 to 1.3 mU/mL for the control group. Hepcidin results were similar in both groups. Because the findings of low iron, high erythropoietin, and normal hepcidin in the anemic macaques supported iron-deficiency anemia or anemia of chronic disease combined with iron-deficiency anemia, a regimen of 4 doses of iron dextran was provided. In treated macaques, Hct rose to 36.3%+or-6.8%, serum iron levels increased to 94.0+or-41.9 micro g/dL, and erythropoietin levels fell to 0.15 to 0.55 mU/mL. Maintenance of normal Hct was variable between macaques and reflected individual ongoing clinical events.