Influence of Microcalcifications on Stress Development Within a Vulnerable Plaque’s Cap

Vulnerable plaques are inflamed, active, and growing lesions which are prone to complications such as rupture, luminal and mural thrombosis, intraplaque hemorrhage, and rapid progression to stenosis. Despite major advances in the prevention and treatment of this disease, it remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, accounting for 30% of all deaths globally [1]. The importance of stress/strain distribution is now well recognized in vascular pathophysiology, specifically in the mechanisms of plaque rupture. Finite element modeling (FEM) and advanced fluid structure interaction (FSI) studies can better characterize coronary stenosis coupling constitutive equations. Mechanical factors such as stress concentrations within a plaque (material fatigue), lesion characteristic (location, size, and composition), and flow patterns are involved in rupture of plaques. Assessment of local mechanical characteristics caused by plaque structure is important for identifying vulnerable plaques and may improve final estimation of the risk for coronary syndrome.