The Interplay of Aging, Aortic Stiffness and Blood Viscosity in Atherogenesis

Normal aortic compliance allows cardiac output to be distributed throughout the cardiac cycle, resulting in lower peak blood velocity. Loss of compliance with aging, hypertension, and possibly other risk factors for atherosclerosis increases peak blood velocity, creating eddy currents in areas of changing vascular geometry, as well as creating adverse patterns of diastolic flow. In the resulting areas of low flow, increased blood viscosity creates the potential for thrombosis. Occlusive thrombi may cause death; parietal or mural thrombi may organize to form atherosclerotic plaques.