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Gonzalo A, Augustin CM, Bifulco SF, Telle Å, Chahine Y, Kassar A, Guerrero-Hurtado M, Durán E, Martínez-Legazpi P, Flores O, Bermejo J, Plank G, Akoum N, Boyle PM, Del Alamo JC. Patient-specific multi-physics simulations of fibrotic changes in left atrial tissue mechanics impact on hemodynamics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.29.596526. [PMID: 38853952 PMCID: PMC11160719 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.29.596526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Atrial myopathy, including fibrosis, is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke, but the mechanisms underlying this association are poorly understood. Fibrosis modifies myocardial structure, impairing electrical propagation and tissue biomechanics, and creating stagnant flow regions where clots could form. Fibrosis can be mapped non-invasively using late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (LGE-MRI). However, fibrosis maps are not currently incorporated into stroke risk calculations or computational electro-mechano-fluidic models. We present multi-physics simulations of left atrial (LA) myocardial motion and hemodynamics using patient-specific anatomies and fibrotic maps from LGE-MRI. We modify tissue stiffness and active tension generation in fibrotic regions and investigate how these changes affect LA flow for different fibrotic burdens. We find that fibrotic regions and, to a lesser extent, non-fibrotic regions experience reduced myocardial strain, resulting in decreased LA emptying fraction consistent with clinical observations. Both fibrotic tissue stiffening and hypocontractility independently reduce LA function, but together, these two alterations cause more pronounced effects than either one alone. Fibrosis significantly alters flow patterns throughout the atrial chamber, and particularly, the filling and emptying jets of the left atrial appendage (LAA). The effects of fibrosis in LA flow are largely captured by the concomitant changes in LA emptying fraction except inside the LAA, where a multi-factorial behavior is observed. This work illustrates how high-fidelity, multi-physics models can be used to study thrombogenesis mechanisms in a patient-specific manner, shedding light onto the link between atrial fibrosis and ischemic stroke. Key points Left atrial (LA) fibrosis is associated with arrhythmogenesis and increased risk of ischemic stroke; its extent and pattern can be quantified on a patient-specific basis using late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging.Current stroke risk prediction tools have limited personalization, and their accuracy could be improvedfib by incorporating patient-specific information like fibrotic maps and hemodynamic patterns.We present the first electro-mechano-fluidic multi-physics computational simulations of LA flow, including fibrosis and anatomies from medical imaging.Mechanical changes in fibrotic tissue impair global LA motion, decreasing LA and left atrial appendage (LAA) emptying fractions, especially in subjects with higher fibrosis burdens.Fibrotic-mediated LA motion impairment alters LA and LAA flow near the endocardium and the whole cavity, ultimately leading to more stagnant blood regions in the LAA.
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Chubb H, Salvador M, Marsden AL. Computational modelling of cardiac resynchronization therapy in congenital heart disease: fantasy or the future? Europace 2024; 26:euae027. [PMID: 38266146 PMCID: PMC10838144 DOI: 10.1093/europace/euae027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Henry Chubb
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, 750 Welch Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-5701, USA
| | - Matteo Salvador
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Alison L Marsden
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, 750 Welch Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-5701, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
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Jędrzejczak K, Orciuch W, Wojtas K, Kozłowski M, Piasecki P, Narloch J, Wierzbicki M, Makowski Ł. Prediction of Hemodynamic-Related Hemolysis in Carotid Stenosis and Aiding in Treatment Planning and Risk Stratification Using Computational Fluid Dynamics. Biomedicines 2023; 12:37. [PMID: 38255144 PMCID: PMC10813079 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis affects human health in many ways, leading to disability or premature death due to ischemic heart disease, stroke, or limb ischemia. Poststenotic blood flow disruption may also play an essential role in artery wall impairment linked with hemolysis related to shear stress. The maximum shear stress in the atherosclerotic plaque area is the main parameter determining hemolysis risk. In our work, a 3D internal carotid artery model was built from CT scans performed on patients qualified for percutaneous angioplasty due to its symptomatic stenosis. The obtained stenosis geometries were used to conduct a series of computer simulations to identify critical parameters corresponding to the increase in shear stress in the arteries. Stenosis shape parameters responsible for the increase in shear stress were determined. The effect of changes in the carotid artery size, length, and degree of narrowing on the change in maximum shear stress was demonstrated. Then, a correlation for the quick initial diagnosis of atherosclerotic stenoses regarding the risk of hemolysis was developed. The developed relationship for rapid hemolysis risk assessment uses information from typical non-invasive tests for treated patients. Practical guidelines have been developed regarding which stenosis shape parameters pose a risk of hemolysis, which may be adapted in medical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystian Jędrzejczak
- Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Waryńskiego 1, 00-645 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Orciuch
- Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Waryńskiego 1, 00-645 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Wojtas
- Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Waryńskiego 1, 00-645 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michał Kozłowski
- Department of Cardiology and Structural Heart Diseases, Medical University of Silesia, Ziołowa 47, 40-635 Katowice, Poland
| | - Piotr Piasecki
- Interventional Radiology Department, Military Institute of Medicine—National Research Institute, Szaserów 128, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jerzy Narloch
- Interventional Radiology Department, Military Institute of Medicine—National Research Institute, Szaserów 128, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marek Wierzbicki
- Interventional Radiology Department, Military Institute of Medicine—National Research Institute, Szaserów 128, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Łukasz Makowski
- Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Waryńskiego 1, 00-645 Warsaw, Poland
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Torre M, Morganti S, Pasqualini FS, Reali A. Current progress toward isogeometric modeling of the heart biophysics. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2023; 4:041301. [PMID: 38510845 PMCID: PMC10903424 DOI: 10.1063/5.0152690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
In this paper, we review a powerful methodology to solve complex numerical simulations, known as isogeometric analysis, with a focus on applications to the biophysical modeling of the heart. We focus on the hemodynamics, modeling of the valves, cardiac tissue mechanics, and on the simulation of medical devices and treatments. For every topic, we provide an overview of the methods employed to solve the specific numerical issue entailed by the simulation. We try to cover the complete process, starting from the creation of the geometrical model up to the analysis and post-processing, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of the methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Torre
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Simone Morganti
- Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 5, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesco S. Pasqualini
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Reali
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Telle Å, Bargellini C, Chahine Y, Del Álamo JC, Akoum N, Boyle PM. Personalized biomechanical insights in atrial fibrillation: opportunities & challenges. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther 2023; 21:817-837. [PMID: 37878350 PMCID: PMC10841537 DOI: 10.1080/14779072.2023.2273896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an increasingly prevalent and significant worldwide health problem. Manifested as an irregular atrial electrophysiological activation, it is associated with many serious health complications. AF affects the biomechanical function of the heart as contraction follows the electrical activation, subsequently leading to reduced blood flow. The underlying mechanisms behind AF are not fully understood, but it is known that AF is highly correlated with the presence of atrial fibrosis, and with a manifold increase in risk of stroke. AREAS COVERED In this review, we focus on biomechanical aspects in atrial fibrillation, current and emerging use of clinical images, and personalized computational models. We also discuss how these can be used to provide patient-specific care. EXPERT OPINION Understanding the connection betweenatrial fibrillation and atrial remodeling might lead to valuable understanding of stroke and heart failure pathophysiology. Established and emerging imaging modalities can bring us closer to this understanding, especially with continued advancements in processing accuracy, reproducibility, and clinical relevance of the associated technologies. Computational models of cardiac electromechanics can be used to glean additional insights on the roles of AF and remodeling in heart function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Åshild Telle
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Clarissa Bargellini
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yaacoub Chahine
- Division of Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Juan C Del Álamo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nazem Akoum
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Division of Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Patrick M Boyle
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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