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Updated: Dec 11, 2025

Optical Coherence Tomography Based Biomechanical Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis of Coronary Atherosclerosis Progression
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High spatial endothelial shear stress gradient independently predicts site of acute coronary plaque rupture and

Vikas Thondapu1,2,3, Chris Mamon2, Eric K W Poon2

  • 1Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.

Cardiovascular Research
|August 25, 2020
PubMed

Insights

High spatial endothelial shear stress gradient (ESSG) is linked to plaque rupture, while high ESSG, endothelial shear stress (ESS), and oscillatory shear index (OSI) are associated with plaque erosion. These hemodynamic factors are critical in acute coronary events.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular research
  • Biomedical engineering
  • Medical imaging

Background:

  • Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) result from plaque rupture or erosion.
  • Understanding the distinct hemodynamic profiles of these events is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and compare local haemodynamics in acute coronary plaque rupture versus erosion.
  • To identify hemodynamic parameters associated with each type of plaque event.

Main Methods:

  • Intracoronary optical coherence tomography (OCT) for 3D reconstruction.
  • Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to analyze hemodynamic parameters.
  • Comparison of endothelial shear stress (ESS), spatial ESS gradient (ESSG), and oscillatory shear index (OSI) between plaque rupture and erosion groups.

Main Results:

  • High ESSG, lipid, and layered plaque independently associated with plaque rupture.
  • High ESSG, ESS, and OSI independently associated with plaque erosion.
  • ESSG was significantly higher in plaque rupture sites compared to erosion sites.
  • OSI was significantly higher in plaque erosion sites compared to rupture sites.

Conclusions:

  • Spatial endothelial shear stress gradient (ESSG) is a key differentiator for plaque rupture.
  • Endothelial shear stress (ESS) and oscillatory shear index (OSI) are associated with plaque erosion.
  • These hemodynamic parameters (ESSG, OSI) may play critical roles in the pathogenesis of acute plaque rupture and erosion, respectively.
Abstract

Keywords:
Computational fluid dynamicsOptical coherence tomographyPlaque erosionPlaque ruptureShear stress gradient

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