Non-dimensional modeling in flow simulation studies of coronary arteries including side-branches: a novel diagnostic...

Blood flow, vascular shape and size and local remodeling of the vascular wall are linked through wall shear stress (WSS) signaling. Inter-individual comparison of shape and WSS is hampered by large differences in size of flow and shape. We performed non-dimensional modeling to discriminate different types of coronary artery remodeling based on WSS patterns and vessel morphology.

Blood flow was simulated in three-dimensional reconstructed right coronary artery trees from seven controls, five patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and five patients with aneurysmatic CAD (AnCAD) classified by expert visual diagnosis. A discriminant model using low WSS area, a remodeling index, and cross-correlation of WSS in main trunks and complete trees (K) as non-dimensional parameters classified CAD and AnCAD correctly and identified three patients with high risk profile and functional disease in controls. The new model was compared with discriminant analysis of identical cases simulated without side-branches. The inclusion of K (information from side-branches) and replacement of the mean diameter by a non-dimensional remodeling index improved the model. We found significant (p<0.005) gender differences in the remodeling index.

The combination of non-dimensional modeling and WSS profiling should be further investigated as a novel diagnostic tool in CAD beyond local stenosis.