Dynamic Changes in Microvascular Flow Conductivity and Perfusion After Myocardial Infarction Shown by Image-Based...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Research
• Biomedical Engineering
• Physiology

Background:

• Microcirculation is crucial for tissue reperfusion after myocardial infarction (MI).
• Assessing microvascular blood flow experimentally is challenging.
• Understanding microcirculatory changes post-MI is vital for improving cardiac tissue perfusion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model blood flow properties in coronary microcirculation at various time points after MI.
• To compare these properties with healthy conditions to identify perfusion alterations.
• To gain insights into the impact of vascular remodeling on microvascular conductivity.

Main Methods:

• Developed an image-based modeling framework.
• Integrated a continuum flow model with anatomical data from pig coronary microvasculature.
• Calculated permeability tensors, microvascular conductivity, arteriole-venule pressure drop, and myocardial blood flow.

Main Results:

• Permeability tensors showed a bimodal increase in infarcted areas on days 1 and 7 post-MI, with decreased arteriole-venule pressure drop.
• Myocardial blood flow was reduced in infarcted regions.
• Simulations quantified the impact of vasodilation, vasoconstriction, and pruning on microvascular conductivity.

Conclusions:

• Unraveled time- and region-dependent alterations in tissue perfusion following MI-induced structural changes.
• The study provides a foundation for simulating therapeutic interventions for MI.
• Paved the way for image-based microvascular modeling in other biomedical contexts.