The mechanism and clinical implication of improved left ventricular videointensity following intravenous injection of multi-fold dilutions of albumin with dextrose

Thomas R. Porter, Feng Xie, Alan Kricsfeld

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The left ventricular ultrasound videointensity of an intravenous injection of sonicated albumin is improved if the agent is diluted with dextrose prior to sonication. The objective of this study was to determine the mechanism for improved left ventricular ultrasound contrast with intravenous sonicated multi-fold dilutions of albumin with dextrose compared to sonicated albumin alone. Epicardial short axis images of the left ventricle were obtained in 11 mongrel dogs and incremental one part sonicated dilutions (up to 10-fold) of albumin with 5 or 50% dextrose were given intravenously to determine which dilution and dextrose concentration produced optimal left ventricular videointensity. Microbubble size and concentration of these dilutions were measured. The one to seven-fold sonicated dilutions resulted in a slight, but significantly larger microbubble size when compared to sonicated albumin alone (SA), but no difference in concentration. All dilutions produced significantly higher end-diastolic peak videointensity (PVI) in the left ventricle than SA (range 160-569% of SA PVI; p<0.001) with the three to five-fold dilution producing maximal PVI. Five percent dextrose dilutions produced the same videointensity as 50% dilutions. End-systolic videointensity of both 5 and 50% dextrose dilutions were also over 250% higher than SA (p<0.001). This resulted in good or excellent end-systolic endocardial border definition in the majority of injections. Therefore, the mechanism for improved left ventricular chamber opacification with multifold sonicated dilutions of albumin with dextrose appears to be due to a small increase in microbubble size and not increased viscosity or microbubble concentration.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)117-125
Number of pages9
JournalThe International Journal of Cardiac Imaging
Volume11
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1995

Keywords

  • contrast
  • structure-activity relationship
  • ultrasound

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiological and Ultrasound Technology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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