A personalized computational model of edema formation in myocarditis based on long-axis biventricular MRI images
Ruy Freitas Reis1, Juliano Lara Fernandes2, Thaiz Ruberti Schmal3
1Department of Computer Science, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, Juiz de Fora, Brazil. ruyfreitas@ice.ufjf.br.
Background:
Myocarditis is defined as the inflammation of the myocardium, i.e. the cardiac muscle. Among the reasons that lead to this disease, we may include infections caused by a virus, bacteria, protozoa, fungus, and others. One of the signs of the inflammation is the formation of edema, which may be a consequence of the interaction between interstitial fluid dynamics and immune response. This complex physiological process was mathematically modeled using a nonlinear system of partial differential equations (PDE) based on porous media approach. By combing a model based on Biot's poroelasticity theory with a model for the immune response we developed a new hydro-mechanical model for inflammatory edema. To verify this new computational model, T2 parametric mapping obtained by Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging was used to identify the region of edema in a patient diagnosed with unspecific myocarditis.
Results:
A patient-specific geometrical model was created using MRI images from the patient with myocarditis. With this model, edema formation was simulated using the proposed hydro-mechanical mathematical model in a two-dimensional domain. The computer simulations allowed us to correlate spatiotemporal dynamics of representative cells of the immune systems, such as leucocytes and the pathogen, with fluid accumulation and cardiac tissue deformation.
Conclusions:
This study demonstrates that the proposed mathematical model is a very promising tool to better understand edema formation in myocarditis. Simulations obtained from a patient-specific model reproduced important aspects related to the formation of cardiac edema, its area, position, and shape, and how these features are related to immune response.
Insights
A new hydro-mechanical model simulates inflammatory edema in myocarditis by integrating fluid dynamics and immune response. Patient-specific simulations accurately reproduced cardiac edema characteristics, aiding understanding of this condition.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Biophysics
- Computational Biology
Background:
- Myocarditis involves inflammation of the cardiac muscle, often due to infections.
- Inflammatory edema in myocarditis arises from complex interactions between interstitial fluid dynamics and immune responses.
- Mathematical modeling offers a way to understand the mechanisms of edema formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and verify a novel hydro-mechanical mathematical model for inflammatory edema in myocarditis.
- To integrate porous media principles with immune response dynamics.
- To create a patient-specific computational model for simulating edema.
Main Methods:
- A nonlinear system of partial differential equations (PDEs) based on Biot's poroelasticity theory was employed.
- The model combines fluid dynamics with an immune response model.
- Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging, specifically T2 parametric mapping, was used for patient-specific model creation and validation.
Main Results:
- A patient-specific geometrical model of myocarditis was constructed from MRI data.
- Simulations in a 2D domain correlated immune cell dynamics (leukocytes, pathogens) with fluid accumulation and cardiac deformation.
- The model successfully reproduced key aspects of edema formation, including its spatial and temporal characteristics.
Conclusions:
- The developed hydro-mechanical model is a valuable tool for understanding edema in myocarditis.
- Patient-specific simulations provide insights into the relationship between immune response and cardiac edema.
- The model's ability to replicate edema features highlights its potential for clinical application.
