Comparative Analysis of Porcine and Human Thoracic Aortic Stiffness

Abstract

To compare porcine and human thoracic aortic stiffness using the available literature. The available literature was searched for studies reporting data on porcine or human thoracic aortic mechanical behaviour. A four fibre constitutive model was used to transform the data from included studies. Thus, equi-biaxial stress stretch curves were generated to calculate circumferential and longitudinal aortic stiffness. Analysis was performed separately for the ascending and descending thoracic aorta. Data on human aortic stiffness were divided by age <60 or ≥60 years. Porcine and human aortic stiffness were compared. Eleven studies were included, six reported on young porcine aortas, four on human aortas of various ages, and one reported on both. In the ascending aorta, circumferential and longitudinal stiffness were 0.42±0.08MPa and 0.37±0.06MPa for porcine aortas (4-9 months) versus 0.55±0.15MPa and 0.45±0.08MPa for humans <60 years, and 1.02±0.59MPa and 1.03±0.54MPa for humans ≥60 years. In the descending aorta, circumferential and longitudinal stiffness were 0.46±0.03MPa and 0.44±0.01MPa for porcine aortas (4-10 months) versus 1.04±0.70MPa and 1.24±0.76MPa for humans <60 years, and 3.15±3.31MPa and 1.17±0.31MPa for humans ≥60 years. The stiffness of young porcine aortic tissue shows good correspondence with human tissue aged <60 years, especially in the ascending aorta. Young porcine aortic tissue is less stiff than human aortic tissue aged ≥60 years.