The Role of Fluid Mechanics in Atherogenesis

A specialists meeting on “The Role of Fluid Mechanics in Atherogenesis” was held August 24–25, 1978, at The Ohio State University. This meeting was a followup to a similar meeting held in 1974 [1, 2]. The present status of our knowledge of the importance of fluid mechanics in the initiation and progression of arterial lesions is summarized on the basis of the experimental data presented at the meeting; no attempt is made to provide a comprehensive review of the relevant literature. Three basic aspects are addressed: firstly, the localization of arterial lesions; secondly, the local hemodynamics of arterial segments with a high predilection to the development of lesions; and thirdly, the interaction of hemodynamic factors with the arterial wall. The many unresolved questions, apparently conflicting experimental data and areas in need of future research on the role of fluid mechanics in atherogenesis are identified specifically.