Experimental and Computational

Modeling of the Effects of Shear Stress on

von Willebrand Factor Proteolysis
MICHAEL TRAMONTOZZI

Clinical Significance

CardiovascularDisease(CVD)

Leadingcauseofmortality worldwide

268outofevery100,000deaths

17millionvictimsin2008.

Treatment Options

Cardiac Allograft (heart transplant)

Ventricular Assist Device (VAD)

VADs

Mechanical Pump

Not intended to be permanent

Can be used as destination therapy

Some patients experience Acquired von Willebrand Disease (AvWD)

Acquired von Willebrand Disease

Hereditary bleeding disorder

vWF necessary for proper coagulation

Carrier for blood clotting Factor VIII

Helps form platelet plug

Protease ADAMTS13

AvWD characterized by insufficient or

ineffective forms of the protein

Increased levels of shear stress on blood plasma

containing vWF will lead to increased vWF proteolysis
(breakdown)

The effect of shear on vWF proteolysis will be looked at both

experimentally and computationally
Wallshearrate=4Q/ r3
Lengthoftube=Qt/ r2

Experimental Results

Computational Results