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Review
. 2010 Sep;83(993):729-35.
doi: 10.1259/bjr/49957752. Epub 2010 Jul 20.

Introduction to the biomechanics of carotid plaque pathogenesis and rupture: review of the clinical evidence

G C Makris  1 , A N Nicolaides, X Y Xu, G Geroulakos
Affiliations
Review

Introduction to the biomechanics of carotid plaque pathogenesis and rupture: review of the clinical evidence

G C Makris et al. Br J Radiol. 2010 Sep.

Abstract

The management of patients with asymptomatic carotid disease is currently under debate and new methods are warranted for better risk stratification. The role of the biomechanical properties of the atherosclerotic arterial wall together with the effect of different stress types in plaque destabilisation has only been recently investigated. PubMed and Scopus databases were reviewed. There is preliminary clinical evidence demonstrating that the analysis of the combined effect of the various types of biomechanical stress acting on the carotid plaque may help us to identify the vulnerable plaque. At present, MRI and two-dimensional ultrasound are combined with fluid-structure interaction techniques to produce maps of the stress variation within the carotid wall, with increased cost and complexity. Stress wall analysis can be a useful tool for carotid plaque evaluation; however, further research and a multidisciplinary approach are deemed as necessary for further development in this direction.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Wall shear and the corresponding tensile stress (in N m–2) patterns for a normal carotid bifurcation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Summary of the effect of wall shear stress (WSS) on atherosclerotic plaque development and rupture. TGF, transforming growth factor.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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