Title: A Model of Atherosclerosis Plaque Formation and Development
Abstract: Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease characterized in particular by the accumulation of lipids and fibrous elements in arteries. Over the past decade, scientists come to appreciate a prominent role for inflammation in atherosclerosis. This work is devoted to the construction of a model of formation of lesions of earliest type arising in atherosclerosis. We consider that the inflammatory process starts with the penetration of Low Density. Lipoproteins cholesterol in the intima. This phenomenon is related to the local blood flow dynamics. The blood flow is simulated by the Navier-Stokes equations, together with the continuity equation. LDL transport in lumen of the vessel is modelled with convective-diffusion equation, and inflammatory process is solved with three additional reaction-diffusion partial differential equations. The plaque growing is modeled by Stokes equation [1], [2] and [3]. The input data for the flow waveforms are taken from MR phase contrast flow measurements of the patient. The computed results show velocity profiles, shear stress distribution and LDL distribution in blood lumen [2] and [3]. Computed concentration oxidized LDL, macrophages and cytokines indicate that there is a newly formed matter in the intima, especially in the flow separation region of LAD during most of the diastole. In summary, full model of plaque formation and development, coupled with blood flow and LDL concentration in blood, is created. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work is part funded by European Commission (ProjectARTREAT, ICT 224297 ).