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Scientific article
Review
English

Biomechanical factors in atherosclerosis: mechanisms and clinical implications†

Contributors

Kwak, Brenda; Bäck, Magnus; Bochaton-Piallat, Marie-Luce; Caligiuri, Giuseppina; Daemen, Mat J A P; Davies, Peter F; Hoefer, Imo E; Holvoet, Paul; Jo, Hanjoong; Krams, Rob; Lehoux, Stephanie; Monaco, Claudia; Steffens, Sabine; Virmani, Renu; Weber, Christian; Wentzel, Jolanda J; Evans, Paul C

Published in

European heart journal, vol. 35, p. 3013-3020

Publication date

2014

Abstract

Blood vessels are exposed to multiple mechanical forces that are exerted on the vessel wall (radial, circumferential and longitudinal forces) or on the endothelial surface (shear stress). The stresses and strains experienced by arteries influence the initiation of atherosclerotic lesions, which develop at regions of arteries that are exposed to complex blood flow. In addition, plaque progression and eventually plaque rupture is influenced by a complex interaction between biological and mechanical factors-mechanical forces regulate the cellular and molecular composition of plaques and, conversely, the composition of plaques determines their ability to withstand mechanical load. A deeper understanding of these interactions is essential for designing new therapeutic strategies to prevent lesion development and promote plaque stabilization. Moreover, integrating clinical imaging techniques with finite element modelling techniques allows for detailed examination of local morphological and biomechanical characteristics of atherosclerotic lesions that may be of help in prediction of future events. In this ESC Position Paper on biomechanical factors in atherosclerosis, we summarize the current 'state of the art' on the interface between mechanical forces and atherosclerotic plaque biology and identify potential clinical applications and key questions for future research.

UNIGE affiliation entities

UNIGE research groups

Citation (ISO format)

KWAK, Brenda et al. Biomechanical factors in atherosclerosis: mechanisms and clinical implications†. In: European heart journal, 2014, vol. 35, p. 3013–3020. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehu353

Main files (1)

Article (Published version)

Identifiers

Journal ISSN

0195-668X
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Technical informations

Creation

24/09/2014 08:39:00

First validation

24/09/2014 08:39:00

Update

13/10/2025 22:22:58

Status update

02/04/2025 07:10:01

Last indexation

22/07/2026 10:54:35
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