Modeling and Computational Simulation of Atherosclerosis

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is considered as the leading cause of death in the developed world and is a result of plaque buildup (Atherosclerosis) in the coronary arteries, which interrupts blood flow. Atherosclerotic plaque develops silently over a prolonged period of time, through a highly complicated inflammatory process that includes many factors, molecules and reactions. Although atherosclerosis is a systemic disease, there are two common cases that their manifestations are acute. In the first case, the stenosis gets severe as a result of the plaque growth (more than 80% blockage), until it blocks the blood flow. The second case, appears without any advance symptoms, is caused by increased stresses on a vulnerable plaque (usually less than 50% blockage) which lead to plaque rupture. Plaque rupture with superimposed thrombosis, similar to a severe stenosis, is the cause of acute coronary syndromes such as myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. Hence, coupled hemodynamic, structural stress analyses and macromolecules’ reactions are pivotal to understanding plaque formation, stability and vulnerability to rupture.