Mathematical modeling and simulation of the evolution of plaques in blood vessels.

J Math Biol

Institute for Applied Mathematics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 294, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.

Published: March 2016

In this paper, a model is developed for the evolution of plaques in arteries, which is one of the main causes for the blockage of blood flow. Plaque rupture and spread of torn-off material may cause closures in the down-stream vessel system and lead to ischemic brain or myocardial infarctions. The model covers the flow of blood and its interaction with the vessel wall. It is based on the assumption that the penetration of monocytes from the blood flow into the vessel wall, and the accumulation of foam cells increasing the volume, are main factors for the growth of plaques. The dynamics of the vessel wall is governed by a deformation gradient, which is given as composition of a purely elastic tensor, and a tensor modeling the biologically caused volume growth. An equation for the evolution of the metric is derived quantifying the changing geometry of the vessel wall. To calculate numerically the solutions of the arising free boundary problem, the model system of partial differential equations is transformed to an ALE (Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian) formulation, where all equations are given in fixed domains. The numerical calculations are using newly developed algorithms for ALE systems. The results of the simulations, obtained for realistic system parameters, are in good qualitative agreement with observations. They demonstrate that the basic modeling assumption can be justified. The increase of stresses in the vessel wall can be computed. Medical treatment tries to prevent critical stress values, which may cause plaque rupture and its consequences.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00285-015-0934-8DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

vessel wall
20
evolution plaques
8
blood flow
8
plaque rupture
8
vessel
6
wall
5
mathematical modeling
4
modeling simulation
4
simulation evolution
4
blood
4

Similar Publications

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. Damage in the cardiovascular system can be due to environmental exposure, trauma, drug toxicity, or numerous other factors. As a result, cardiac tissue and vasculature undergo structural changes and display diminished function.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Spatiotemporal analysis of the effects of exercise on the hemodynamics of the aorta in hypertensive rats using fluid-structure interaction simulation.

J Transl Int Med

February 2024

Department of Cardiology and Institute of Vascular Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital; State Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and Remodeling, Peking University; NHC Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Molecular Biology and Regulatory Peptides, Peking University; Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Receptors Research, Beijing 100191, China.

Background And Objective: Hemodynamic changes that lead to increased blood pressure represent the main drivers of organ damage in hypertension. Prolonged increases to blood pressure can lead to vascular remodeling, which also affects vascular hemodynamics during the pathogenesis of hypertension. Exercise is beneficial for relieving hypertension, however the mechanistic link between exercise training and how it influences hemodynamics in the context of hypertension is not well understood.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Chest wall infiltration in primary lung cancer affects the surgical and therapeutic strategies. This study evaluates the efficacy of the chest wall vessel involvement in subpleural lung cancer (CWVI) on ultra-high-resolution CT (UHR-CT) for detecting chest wall invasion.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of lung cancer cases with confirmed pleural and chest wall invasion was conducted from November 2019 to April 2022.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A patient in his early adolescence, who was treated for T5-T6 tubercular spondylodiscitis with an un-instrumented decompression, presented at 36 months post-index surgery, for post-laminectomy instability and kyphosis, after completing his requisite antitubercular treatment. He underwent thoracic posterior instrumented kyphosis correction and anterior reconstruction, with a T5-T6 partial corpectomy and corpectomy spacer placement, through a posterior midline incision. On the second postoperative day, he started complaining of pain on the left side of his chest, abdomen and left shoulder.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Endothelial dysfunction and inflammation are linked to migraine, which may contribute to atherogenesis and increase the risk of ischemia. In migraineurs, preclinical vascular involvement manifested as compromised structural characteristics of vessel wall has not received enough attention or evaluation.

Objectives: To measure plasma pentraxin 3 as an indicator of endothelial dysfunction in migraine in comparison to controls and to examine its correlation with clinical characteristics, headache severity, and brain magnetic resonance imaging findings.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!