Mathematical modeling and numerical simulation of atherosclerosis

authored by: M. Soleimani, P. Wriggers, P. Junker, C. Gasser, A. Haverich
Abstract: This work introduces a mathematical model and its numerical implementation within a finite element (FE) framework to investigate the progression of atherosclerosis, a prevalent vascular disease characterized by abnormal thickening of the arterial wall. The model follows the outside-in paradigm, which attributes the disease's origin to the dysfunction of the vasa vasorum (VVs) the microvascular network responsible for nourishing the artery wall. Vasa vasorum malfunction triggers an inflammatory response, leading to excessive tissue growth and wall thickening, ultimately causing stenosis and narrowing of the lumen. Additionally, this inflammatory process induces abnormal mechanical stresses within the arterial wall and activates homeostatic growth mechanisms. The interplay between inflammation and stress-driven growth governs the disease's progression. The numerical implementation is facilitated by AceGen, a symbolic and automatic differentiation tool, enabling the generation of a FORTRAN subroutine that interfaces with the FEM solver ANSYS.
Organisation(s): Institute of Continuum Mechanics
External Organisation(s): Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
Hannover Medical School (MHH)
Type: Contribution to book/anthology
Pages: 1017-1018
No. of pages: 2
Publication date: 01.01.2025
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: General Engineering
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003677895-170 (Access: Closed)
: Details in the research portal "Research@Leibniz University"

BibTeX

@inbook{dcb1c88e6b244cf7b2af36d52c39f673,
title = "Mathematical modeling and numerical simulation of atherosclerosis",
abstract = "This work introduces a mathematical model and its numerical implementation within a finite element (FE) framework to investigate the progression of atherosclerosis, a prevalent vascular disease characterized by abnormal thickening of the arterial wall. The model follows the outside-in paradigm, which attributes the disease's origin to the dysfunction of the vasa vasorum (VVs) the microvascular network responsible for nourishing the artery wall. Vasa vasorum malfunction triggers an inflammatory response, leading to excessive tissue growth and wall thickening, ultimately causing stenosis and narrowing of the lumen. Additionally, this inflammatory process induces abnormal mechanical stresses within the arterial wall and activates homeostatic growth mechanisms. The interplay between inflammation and stress-driven growth governs the disease's progression. The numerical implementation is facilitated by AceGen, a symbolic and automatic differentiation tool, enabling the generation of a FORTRAN subroutine that interfaces with the FEM solver ANSYS.",
author = "M. Soleimani and P. Wriggers and P. Junker and C. Gasser and A. Haverich",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 selection and editorial matter, Alphose Zingoni; individual chapters, the contributors. All rights reserved.",
year = "2025",
month = jan,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1201/9781003677895-170",
language = "English",
isbn = "9781032780102",
pages = "1017--1018",
booktitle = "Engineering Materials, Structures, Systems and Methods for a More Sustainable Future",
publisher = "CRC Press",
}