Modeling and correlation of plaque size with histological and blood analysis data for animal rabbit experiments

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is becoming the number one cause of death worldwide. Animal experiments are very important to better understand physiological conditions for atherosclerosis development. We here examined influence of wall shear stress (WSS), histological and blood analysis data on the atherosclerosis lesion development for animal model. The histological cross-sections and blood analysis (cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides) data are provided from study of 19 rabbits fed by atherogenic diet at Cambridge University, within the ARTreat project research (www.artreat.kg.ac.rs). The Navier-Stokes and continuity equations were the governing equations for modeling fluid dynamics in the lumen. Convection diffusion equations were used for modeling LDL transport. For coupling fluid dynamics and solute dynamics Kedem-Katchalsky equations were used. Four regression models: multiple regression, polynomial regression, factorial regression and response surface regression are used for fitting experimental data for the plaque size. These models showed strong correlation between plaque size and input experimental data. The results represent a progress in the assessment of stroke risk for a given patient's geometry and blood analysis data.