An integrated approach to simulating the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque.

An integrated approach to simulating the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2020 Aug 14;: Authors: Mohammad Mirzaei N, Weintraub WS, Fok PW Abstract Analyses of individual atherosclerotic plaques are mostly descriptive, relying - for example - on histological classification by spectral analysis of ultrasound waves or staining and observing particular cellular components. Such passive methods have proved useful for characterizing the structure and vulnerability of plaques but have little quantitative predictive power. Our aim is to introduce and discuss a computational framework to provide insight to clinicians and help them visualize internal plaque dynamics. We use Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) with macrophages, necrotic cells, oxidized lipids, oxygen concentration and PDGF (Platelet Derived Growth Factor) as primary variables coupled to a biomechanical model to describe vessel growth. The model is deterministic, providing mechanical, morphological, and histological characteristics of an atherosclerotic vessel at any desired future time point. We use our model to create computer-generated animations of a plaque evolution that are in qualitative agreement with published serial ultrasound images and hypothesize possible atherogenic mechanisms. A systems-biology model consisting of 5 differential equations is able to capture the morphology of necrotic cores residing within vulnerable atheroscler...
Source: American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology - Category: Physiology Authors: Tags: Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol Source Type: research