Computational Modeling of Blood Clotting: Coagulation and Three-dimensional Platelet Aggregation

Summary

Platelet aggregation and coagulation are the two main components of blood clotting, both of the normal hemostasis that maintains vascular integrity and of the pathological thrombosis that is the cause of most heart attacks and strokes. Two approaches to modeling aspects of blood clotting are presented. The first emphasizes the mechanical interactions among platelets, fluid, and vessel, in platelet aggregation. It uses the immersed boundary method as a modeling/computational tool on which to base three-dimensional simulations of platelet aggregation. The second emphasizes coagulation biochemistry and uses a much simplified description of flow and transport. The dynamics of coagulation are studied and novel predictions about the regulation of the system are made.