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Numerical Simulation of Atrial Fibrillation on Progression of Atherosclerosis

Dokoohaki, Peyman | 2026

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  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 58900 (08)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Mechanical Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Firoozabadi, Bahar
  7. Abstract:
  8. Given the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and the significant role of numerical studies in elucidating the mechanisms underlying these conditions, this study investigates the effect of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia, on the progression of atherosclerotic plaque growth. To this end, a zero-dimensional left-heart model was employed, and parametric modifications corresponding to different physiological conditions were applied to obtain the left ventricular outflow waveform under normal conditions and various AF scenarios. These flow profiles were subsequently imposed as inlet boundary conditions on a patient-specific aortic geometry, while a three-element Windkessel model was used as the outlet boundary condition, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed. To model the transport of species involved in atherosclerosis development, wall boundary conditions were defined using the Kedem–Katchalsky equations and Olgac’s three-pore model, and species transport was investigated through the solution of Darcy’s equations for flow within the arterial wall coupled with concentration transport equations. The results showed that foam cell accumulation increased in all AF scenarios except for the case involving only an elevated heart rate, with left ventricular systolic dysfunction identified as the most critical condition among the investigated cases. Furthermore, hyperlipidemia (i.e., LDL levels above the normal range) was examined under this critical condition, and the combined effects of elevated blood cholesterol and atrial fibrillation were assessed. The findings indicated that this coexistence can substantially enhance foam cell accumulation and create a highly critical environment for atherosclerotic plaque progression. Finally, therapeutic strategies for controlling hyperlipidemia were evaluated, and the results demonstrated that statin therapy can reduce foam cell accumulation to a certain extent
  9. Keywords:
  10. Cardiac Arrhythmia ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Foam Cell ; Atherosclerosis ; Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) ; Heart Diseases

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