The effect of plaque morphology, material composition and microcalcifications on the risk of cap rupture: A structural analysis of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The mechanical rupture of an atheroma cap may initiate a thrombus formation, followed by an acute coronary event and death. Several morphology and tissue composition factors have been identified to play a role on the mechanical stability of an atheroma, including cap thickness, lipid core stiffness, remodeling index, and blood pressure. More recently, the presence of microcalcifications (μCalcs) in the atheroma cap has been demonstrated, but their combined effect with other vulnerability factors has not been fully investigated.

Materials and methods

We performed numerical simulations on 3D idealized lesions and a microCT-derived human coronary atheroma, to quantitatively analyze the atheroma cap rupture. From the predicted cap stresses, we defined a biomechanics-b

SUBMITTER: Corti A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9583261 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature