Coronary artery plaque growth: A two-way coupled shear stress-driven model

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Computational Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Atherosclerosis involves plaque growth, stenosis, and reduced blood flow in coronary arteries.
• Hemodynamics, particularly low wall shear stress (WSS), are critical drivers of atherosclerotic plaque progression.
• A complex, two-way interaction exists between WSS and plaque growth dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a computational framework simulating the coupled interaction between WSS and coronary artery plaque growth.
• To investigate the influence of hemodynamics on plaque morphology and progression.
• To provide a tool for studying hemodynamic-driven atherosclerotic development.

Main Methods:

• Utilized computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to calculate WSS distribution.
• Implemented a computational framework coupling CFD simulations with a plaque growth model.
• Simulated 120 growth stages in an idealized tube and an image-based coronary artery model.
• Automated the coupling process using open-source software.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated significant plaque growth in the downstream segments, consistent with clinical observations.
• Observed changes in plaque morphology and hemodynamic patterns throughout the simulated growth stages.
• Validated the computational framework's ability to model the WSS-atherosclerosis feedback loop.

Conclusions:

• The developed computational framework effectively simulates the coupled relationship between WSS and plaque growth.
• Findings support the role of hemodynamics as a key factor in atherosclerotic progression.
• The framework offers a valuable tool for future research into hemodynamic-driven cardiovascular disease models.