  Analyses of individual atherosclerotic plaques are mostly descriptive,
relying -- for example -- on histological classification by spectral analysis
of ultrasound waves or staining and observing particular cellular components.
Such passive methods have proved useful for characterizing the structure and
vulnerability of plaques but have little quantitative predictive power. In this
viewpoint article, we propose an integrated quantitative framework to
understand the evolution of plaque. The main approach is to use Partial
Differential Equations (PDEs) with macrophages, necrotic cells, oxidized
lipids, oxygen concentration and PDGF as primary variables coupled to a
biomechanical model to describe vessel growth. The model is deterministic,
providing mechanical, morphological, and histological characteristics of an
atherosclerotic vessel at any desired future time point. We discuss the pros
and cons of such a model, how such a model can provide insight to the
clinician, and potentially guide therapy. Finally, we use our model to create
computer-generated animations of a plaque evolution that are in qualitative
agreement with serial ultrasound images published by Kubo et al. (2010) and
hypothesize possible atherogenic mechanisms.
