Mathematical modelling of atherosclerosis

Abstract

The review presents the state of the art in the atherosclerosis modelling. It begins with the biological introduction describing the mechanisms of chronic inflammation of artery walls characterizing the development of atherosclerosis. In particular, we present in more detail models describing this chronic inflammation as a reaction-diffusion wave with regimes of propagation depending on the level of cholesterol (LDL) and models of rolling monocytes initializing the inflammation. Further development of this disease results in the formation of atherosclerotic plaque, vessel remodelling and possible plaque rupture due its interaction with blood flow. We review plaque-flow interaction models as well as reduced models (0D and 1D) of blood flow in atherosclerotic vasculature.