title: Platelet transport rates and binding kinetics at high shear over a thrombus.
abstract: Thrombus formation over a ruptured atherosclerotic plaque cap can occlude an artery with fatal consequences. We describe a computational model of platelet transport and binding to interpret rate-limiting steps seen in experimental thrombus formation over a collagen-coated stenosis. The model is used to compute shear rates in stenoses with growing boundaries. In the model, moving erythrocytes influence platelet transport based on shear-dependent enhanced diffusivity and a nonuniform platelet distribution. Adhesion is modeled as platelet-platelet binding kinetics. The results indicate that observed thrombus growth rates are limited by platelet transport to the wall for shear rates up to 6000 s(-1). Above 7000 s(-1), the thrombus growth rate is likely limited by binding kinetics (10(-4) m/s). Thrombus growth computed from these rate-limiting steps match the thrombus location and occlusion times for experimental conditions if a lag time for platelet activation is included. Using fitted parameters, the model is then used to predict thrombus size and shape at a higher Reynolds number flow consistent with coronary artery disease.
authors.affiliation: Georgia Institute of Technology, GWW School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. david.bark@gmail.com
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Bark
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Ku
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000473:pathology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D010973:Platelet Adhesiveness; D010974:Platelet Aggregation