Wall Shear Stress Alteration: a Local Risk Factor of Atherosclerosis

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.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. 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.