title: Intravenous albunex during dobutamine stress echocardiography: enhanced localization of left ventricular endocardial borders.
abstract: Albunex is an intravenous contrast agent that opacifies the left ventricle (LV). This study evaluated the effect of Albunex on the enhancement of LV endocardial border localization during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). Albunex was infused in 30 patients at baseline and with low- and high-dosage dobutamine. Apical two- and four-chamber views were divided into six segments each, and enhancement of LV border localization was compared with precontrast images graded as follows: 0 = none; 1 = faint; or 2 = optimal. The mean grade and percentage of segments with optimal localization of LV endocardial borders were determined. There was a significant increase in enhancement with low- and high-dosage dobutamine when compared with baseline. Of 179 segments with suboptimal enhancement at baseline, 137 (77%) became optimal during DSE with Albunex. We conclude that Albunex improves localization of LV endocardial borders and that this localization is enhanced during DSE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Falcone
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Marcovitz
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Dittrich
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Armstrong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000418:Albumins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D004280:Dobutamine; D004452:Echocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; C060687:Albunex; D003287:Contrast Media; D004280:Dobutamine