A mathematical model to describe the change in the constitutive character of blood due to platelet activation Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Though a minor component by volume, platelets can have a profound influence on the flow characteristics of blood and thereby have serious consequences with regard to cardiovascular functions. Platelets are extremely sensitive to chemical agents as well as mechanical inputs and platelet activation is a necessary precursor to many life threatening medical conditions such as acute myocardial infarction, most strokes, acute arterial occlusion, venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. In cardiovascular devices such as ventricular assist devices and prosthetic heart valves, high shear stresses can trigger platelet activation. Moreover, such devices have artificial surfaces that are thrombogenic, the thrombotic deposition contributing to the failure of the device. Thus, there is a need to develop a mathematical model for the flow of blood that takes into account platelet activation, no such model being available at the moment. While there has been considerable amount of work in blood rheology, the role of platelets in the flow characteristics of blood has been largely ignored. This study addresses this lacuna. 2002 Acadmie des sciences/ditions scientifiques et mdicales Elsevier SAS.

published proceedings

  • COMPTES RENDUS MECANIQUE

author list (cited authors)

  • Anand, M., & Rajagopal, K. R.

citation count

  • 37

complete list of authors

  • Anand, M||Rajagopal, KR

publication date

  • January 2002