Flow and Atherogenesis in the Human Carotid Bifurcation

Abstract

Arterial branchings are of particular interest in the study of atherogenesis because of the frequent occurrence of atherosclerotic plaques in these sites. The bifurcation of the common carotid artery into the internal and external branches is an important example due to its frequent involvement with arterial disease and to the fact that transient ischemic episodes and cerebrovascular accidents are often associated with these extracranial lesions. Despite this well-recognized fact, little quantitative information is available concerning the precise distribution of carotid lesions or of their relationship to local hemodynamic factors. Inasmuch as hemodynamic behavior represents a mechanical factor which may create a favorable environment for plaque localization in bifurcations, we have undertaken a study to provide a detailed description of the flow field in the carotid bifurcation and of the distribution of early atherosclerotic lesions in humans. Previously, we have reported on flow visualization in a model of the human carotid bifurcation and on velocity and wall shear stress measurements in the model obtained with laser Doppler anemometry under steady flow conditions [1,2]. Recently, we have harvested human carotid arteries and studied the distribution of atherosclerotic lesions in these vessels.