Simulation of plaque formation in a realistic geometry of a human aorta: effects of endothelial layer properties,...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Cardiovascular Science

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases are the leading global cause of death.
• Atherosclerosis, characterized by arterial narrowing, begins with endothelial inflammation and LDL infiltration.
• Foam cells are critical indicators of atherosclerosis development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To numerically investigate foam cell accumulation in a patient-specific human thoracic aorta model.
• To analyze the impact of endothelial layer modeling, heart rate (HR), and hypertension on foam cell distribution.
• To understand the relationship between hemodynamic factors and atherosclerosis progression.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Navier-Stokes, Darcy, and mass transfer equations for numerical simulations.
• Modeled patient-specific human thoracic aorta geometry.
• Investigated effects of time-averaged wall shear stress and oscillatory shear rate on endothelial properties.

Main Results:

• Foam cell accumulation location varied based on endothelial cell property determinants (outer curvature vs. inner curvature).
• Increased heart rate (HR) led to a slight decrease in average foam cell concentration.
• Hypertension significantly increased foam cell concentration, indicating a heightened risk of circulatory problems.

Conclusions:

• Endothelial cell properties, influenced by shear stress, dictate foam cell distribution patterns.
• While HR has a minor effect, hypertension poses a substantial risk for atherosclerosis development.
• Findings underscore the critical impact of blood pressure on cardiovascular health and potential for irreversible circulatory damage.