PB1167 - In vitro flow models for arterial thrombosis, advantages and shortcomings: a systematic review

Background: Arterial thrombosis is an occlusive blood clot formation in an artery, which can lead to life threatening conditions like stroke or myocardial infarction and is often associated with the presence of atherosclerosis. In vitro models serve as valuable tools in thrombosis research, enabling scientists to investigate thrombogenic processes in a controlled environment and flow conditions, leading to a better understanding of clot formation and potential therapeutic targets.

Aims: In this review, we systematically searched for in vitro arterial thrombosis models incorporating blood flow and provide an overview of the commonly used approaches.

Methods: The systematic review was conducted on the databases Medline, Embase and Web of Science. Following the screening process, 73 articles were included. Based on the search results, we categorized the models as macro-scale and micro-scale flow models.

Results: We briefly describe these models and highlight their advantages and shortcomings along with factors that are important to report for standardization and reproducibility. In vitro models for arterial thrombosis can serve as valuable tools for understanding the basic mechanisms underlying clot formation.

Conclusion(s): They are gaining prominence in basic research and with further standardization and advancements in technology they may become valuable in clinical practice as well. The results of this systematic review underscore the versatility and potential of in vitro models in advancing our understanding of arterial thrombosis.