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Wall Shear Stress Alteration: a Local Risk Factor of Atherosclerosis

  • Statin Drugs (R. Ceska, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Wall shear stress describes the mechanical influence of blood flow on the arterial wall. In this review, we discuss the role of the wall shear stress in the development of atherosclerosis and its complications.

Recent Findings

Areas with chronically low, oscillating wall shear stress are most prone to plaque development and include outer bifurcation walls and inner walls of arches. In some diseases, patients have lower wall shear stress even in straight arterial segments; also, these findings were associated with atherosclerosis. High wall shear stress develops in the distal part (shoulder) of a stenosis and contributes to plaque destabilization.

Summary

Wall shear stress changes are involved in the development of atherosclerosis. They are not fully understood yet and act in concert with tangential wall stress.

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Abbreviations

CT:

Computerized tomography

CCTA:

Computerized tomography coronary angiography

ECs:

Endothelial cells

IVUS:

Intravascular ultrasonography

4D MRA:

Four-dimensional magnetic resonance angiography

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

OCT:

Optical coherence tomography

PECAM-1:

Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1

VEGF:

Vascular endothelial growth factor

WSS:

Wall shear stress

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Funding

This work was supported by MH CZ — DRO (General University Hospital in Prague — VFN, 00064165).

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J., M., L., N., A., V. et al. Wall Shear Stress Alteration: a Local Risk Factor of Atherosclerosis. Curr Atheroscler Rep 24, 143–151 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-022-00993-0

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