Pulsatile albumin transport in large arteries: a numerical simulation study

Albumin transport in a stenosed artery configuration is analyzed numerically under steady and pulsatile flow conditions. The flow dynamics is described applying the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations for Newtonian fluids, the mass transport is modelled using the convection diffusion equation. The boundary conditions describing the solute wall flux take into account the concept of endothelial resistance to albumin flux by means of a shear dependent permeability model based on experimental data. The study concentrates on the influence of steady and pulsatile flow patterns and of regional variations in vascular geometry on the solute wall flux and on the ratio of endothelial resistance to concentration boundary layer resistance. The numerical solution of the Navier-Stokes equations and of the transport equation applies the finite element method where stability of the convection dominated transport process is achieved by using an upwind procedure and a special subelement technique. Numerical simulations are carried out for albumin transport in a stenosed artery segment with 75 percent area reduction representing a late stage in the progression of an atherosclerotic disease. It is shown that albumin wall flux varies significantly along the arterial section, is strongly dependent upon the different flow regimes and varies considerably during a cardiac cycle. The comparison of steady results and pulsatile results shows differences up to 30 percent between time-averaged flux and steady flux in the separated flow region downstream the stenosis.