Tailored reperfusion strategies in acute myocardial infarction: role of intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography.
After many years of study and research, the noninvasive assessment of myocardial perfusion by echo contrast agents is becoming a clinical reality. The fast technological progress of echocardiographic imaging and the approval for human use in Europe and the United States of some first and second generation contrast agents explains the growing interest in this new methodology. Recently, a new second generation contrast agent, SonoVue, made of microbubbles stabilized by phospholipids and containing sulphur hexafluoride, has been introduced on the European market. We describe the role of intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography with second-generation contrast agents such as SonoVue in the tailored reperfusion strategies in acute myocardial infarction.
Agati
Luciano
L
Department of Cardiology, "La Sapienza" University of Rome, Policlinico Umberto I, Via del Policlinico, 155, 00161 Roma, Italy. luciano.agati@uniroma.it
De Maio
Francesca
F
Madonna
Maria Pina
MP
Celani
Flavia
F
Funaro
Stefania
S
Tonti
Gianni
G
D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000628:therapy*; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion; D010743:Phospholipids; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride
D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride