Stability against dynamic remodeling of an arterial tissue

Geometry and structure of the arterial wall are maintained through continuous growth and remodeling (G&R). To understand these processes, mathematical models have been proposed in which the outcome of G&R depends on a mechanical stimulus through evolution equations. Rate parameters in these equations cannot be determined easily from experimental data. Assuming that the healthy artery is stable against remodeling, a physiologically acceptable range for the two rate parameters in the framework of an existing model of arterial G&R is determined here. The model is explicitly evaluated for the example of a cylindrical blood vessel, both thick-walled and thin-walled. For the thin-walled vessel a criterion for stability against remodeling is derived by means of a linear stability approach, and is expressed in terms of the ratio of the rates of remodeling parameters. It is shown that this criterion is equivalent to the condition that the physiological healthy state of the artery can be reached, implying that if the healthy state exists then it is stable. Explicit numerical results are presented for a typical cerebral artery and an abdominal aorta.