title: Ultrasound contrast agents for brain perfusion imaging and ischemic stroke therapy.
abstract: Stroke is one of the major causes of death and disabilities in industrialized countries. Ultrasound imaging is a largely wide spread bedside technique that is easily accessible and valuable in case of emergency but suffers from the fact that the ultrasound wave has to cross the skull for brain imaging. However, ultrasound contrast agents and new contrast-specific imaging modalities have helped to improve the diagnostic quality of transcranial ultrasonography. This review article surveys and discusses the current state of microbubbles technology and the use of contrast-enhanced transcranial ultrasound for the assessment of brain perfusion. Future aspects and expectations in contrast agent functionality, such as targeting and drug or gene delivery, acceleration of thrombolysis, and imaging technology, are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Bracco Research SA, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Della Martina
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meyer-Wiethe
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Allémann
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seidel
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D003287:Contrast Media; D004453:Echoencephalography; D006801:Humans; D045423:Microbubbles; D010477:Perfusion; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media