A Coupled Model of LV Growth and Mechanics Applied to Pressure Overload Hypertrophy

Hypertension currently affects approximately one third the population in the United States, and represents a major economic burden on the health care system with an estimated annual direct and indirect cost of $50.6 billion [1]. In the case of systemic hypertension, the left ventricle (LV) must work against increased pressure load to pump blood to the body. Over time, this excessive work causes hypertrophy of the myocardium (thickening of the myofibers). While initially a compensatory mechanism, hypertrophy can eventually lead to heart failure (HF) [2]. Predictive modeling of the hypertrophic growth will lead to a better understanding of the disease mechanisms, which in turn has the potential to lead to better treatment strategies.