Rupture of atherosclerotic plaque is the main trigger of acute cardiovascular events, but the mechanism of plaque rupture is still unknown. We have constructed a model describing the motion of the fibrous cap of the p...Rupture of atherosclerotic plaque is the main trigger of acute cardiovascular events, but the mechanism of plaque rupture is still unknown. We have constructed a model describing the motion of the fibrous cap of the plaque using the theory of elastic mechanics and studied the stability of the plaque theoretically. It has shown that plaque rupture is the result of a dynamic interplay between factors intrinsic to the plaque itself and extrinsic factors. We have proposed a new mechanism of plaque rupture, given a new explanation about the nonlinear dynamic progress of atherosclerosis and suggested a method to identify the vulnerable plaques to manage atherosclerosis.展开更多
The fibrous cap is a protective layer of connective tissue that covers the core of an atherosclerotic plaque. The rupture of this layer has been commonly associated with acute myocardial infarctions. The thickness of ...The fibrous cap is a protective layer of connective tissue that covers the core of an atherosclerotic plaque. The rupture of this layer has been commonly associated with acute myocardial infarctions. The thickness of the fibrous cap, the percentage of stenosed area, and the stiffness of the core were studied (commonly associated with vulnerable plaque characteristics) to quantify their effects on the cap’s mechanical stress state by performing analyses using computational fluid-structure interaction (FSI) methods. The mechanical stress levels are significantly increased within the fibrous cap structure at the upstream side of the plaque. As expected, the highest stresses occurred for a severe stenosis and a thin fibrous cap. Interestingly, a weak structural support such as a soft lipid pool beneath the fibrous cap allowed for the hemodynamic pressure gradient forces to displace the fibrous cap in the direction of the flow, resulting in higher strains and thus higher mechanical stresses in the upstream portion of the plaque cap, potentially increasing the risk of cap rupture. The peak stress behavior of the most critical cases (thin fibrous cap and soft lipid core) at various degrees of stenosis was analyzed. For mid-range stenosis from 43% to 75%, there was a plateau region revealing that mild and moderate plaques were quickly exposed to the high stress condition of severe plaques. In conclusion, the particular combination of a mild to severe stenosis, a thin fibrous cap and a soft lipid core resulted in the highest mechanical stresses calculated at the proximal side of the plaque. Mild and moderate plaques can be subjected to stresses similar to severe plaques, possibly contributing to their rupture.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.10302016 and 60271015)the Key Foundation of Health Ministry of China(Grant No.20012943)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong University.
文摘Rupture of atherosclerotic plaque is the main trigger of acute cardiovascular events, but the mechanism of plaque rupture is still unknown. We have constructed a model describing the motion of the fibrous cap of the plaque using the theory of elastic mechanics and studied the stability of the plaque theoretically. It has shown that plaque rupture is the result of a dynamic interplay between factors intrinsic to the plaque itself and extrinsic factors. We have proposed a new mechanism of plaque rupture, given a new explanation about the nonlinear dynamic progress of atherosclerosis and suggested a method to identify the vulnerable plaques to manage atherosclerosis.
文摘The fibrous cap is a protective layer of connective tissue that covers the core of an atherosclerotic plaque. The rupture of this layer has been commonly associated with acute myocardial infarctions. The thickness of the fibrous cap, the percentage of stenosed area, and the stiffness of the core were studied (commonly associated with vulnerable plaque characteristics) to quantify their effects on the cap’s mechanical stress state by performing analyses using computational fluid-structure interaction (FSI) methods. The mechanical stress levels are significantly increased within the fibrous cap structure at the upstream side of the plaque. As expected, the highest stresses occurred for a severe stenosis and a thin fibrous cap. Interestingly, a weak structural support such as a soft lipid pool beneath the fibrous cap allowed for the hemodynamic pressure gradient forces to displace the fibrous cap in the direction of the flow, resulting in higher strains and thus higher mechanical stresses in the upstream portion of the plaque cap, potentially increasing the risk of cap rupture. The peak stress behavior of the most critical cases (thin fibrous cap and soft lipid core) at various degrees of stenosis was analyzed. For mid-range stenosis from 43% to 75%, there was a plateau region revealing that mild and moderate plaques were quickly exposed to the high stress condition of severe plaques. In conclusion, the particular combination of a mild to severe stenosis, a thin fibrous cap and a soft lipid core resulted in the highest mechanical stresses calculated at the proximal side of the plaque. Mild and moderate plaques can be subjected to stresses similar to severe plaques, possibly contributing to their rupture.
