title: Feto-maternal interaction: a mathematical model simulating placental response in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
abstract: Elevated maternal blood pressure (BP) is common in pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders. In response, increased production and accumulation of elastin occurs in the feto-placental blood vessels. This results in increased vascular wall stiffness that increases the resistance to flow. To study the interaction between the stiffness of the fetoplacental blood vessels, fetoplacental blood flow and BP, a mathematical model of the fetoplacental vascular tree was developed. The model describes an elastic structure exposed to external pressure. Model results indicate that increased vascular stiffness in the fetal blood vessels may contribute to optimizing fetoplacental blood flow in hypertensive pregnancies. According to model predictions, uncontrolled lowering of BP following vascular adaptation may adversely affect fetoplacental blood flow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Oded
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Luria
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bar
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kovo
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golan
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Barnea
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*