Quantitative Analyses of Cerebral Hemodynamics and Wave Dynamics in Essential Systemic Hypertension: A Multiscale...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Computational Biology
• Medical Engineering

Background:

• Hypertension causes pathological changes in hemodynamics and wave dynamics, contributing to cerebrovascular diseases.
• Limited understanding exists due to current medical device resolution constraints.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multiscale computational model for the cardiovascular system to study hypertension's effects.
• To introduce a parameter assignment method for vascular bed models and a strategy for characterizing hypertension-related parameters.

Main Methods:

• Developed a closed-loop multiscale computational modeling framework for the entire cardiovascular system.
• Proposed a novel parameter assignment method for 0D peripheral vascular bed models.
• Introduced a mathematical modeling strategy for hypertension-associated cardiovascular parameters.

Main Results:

• Hypertension showed early arrival and increased intensity/power of forward and backward compression/expansion waves in cerebral arteries.
• The aorta exhibited delayed forward wave arrival but early backward wave arrival, with altered wave magnitudes.
• Parametric studies indicated that arterial enlargement, increased myocardial stiffness, and peripheral resistance reduced cerebral artery wave intensity/power.

Conclusions:

• The computational model provides a tool for understanding hypertension's complex hemodynamic and wave dynamic mechanisms.
• Findings highlight the impact of hypertension on cerebrovascular hemodynamics and wave propagation.