Effects of hypertension on Intima-Media Thickness (IMT); application to a human carotid artery

Abstract. A vast number of deaths in the world have been attributed to atherosclerosis. The prominent aim of this study is proposing an accurate and simple model to investigate the process of arterial wall thickening. In order to investigate LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) accumulation in arterial wall, a four layer model for arterial wall consisting of endothelium, intima, IEL, and media is presented. All layers are treated as homogenous porous media. This model has been solved both numerically and analytically. Obtained accumulated LDL in the intima is used to calculate oxidized LDL ux. Also, the presented model and clinical data are used to prepare the growth model for arterial wall. Furthermore, the eect of hypertension on ltration velocity and rate of wall thickening has been studied which is in consistent with experimental data. Results show that the average rates of intima thickening of hypertensive patients with 120 mmHg and 160 mmHg transmural pressure are 5.87 m/year and 6.12 m/year, respectively. This rate for healthy subjects with 70 mmHg transmural pressure has been calculated 4.5 m/year. Finally, this model is applied to a carotid artery, and the maximum intimal growth rate for people with 70 mmHg, 120 mmHg and 160 mmHg transmural pressure is calculated 4.68 m/year, 6.28 m/year, and 6.67 m/year, respectively