Hepatic vein transit time of SonoVue: a comparative study with Levovist.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively compare transit times of Levovist and SonoVue in healthy volunteers and patients with biopsy-proved hepatitis C-related liver disease.


METHODS
Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. Forty patients and 25 healthy volunteers were examined. Subjects fasted, a bolus of SonoVue (0.6 mL) was injected into a cubital fossa vein, and hepatic venous time-intensity profiles were measured with spectral Doppler tracing. This was repeated with two injections of Levovist (2 g) and another injection of SonoVue. Time-intensity curves of spectral Doppler signals of right and middle hepatic veins were analyzed. A sustained signal intensity increase of 10% above baseline levels indicated hepatic vein transit time (HVTT). Carotid artery audio intensity was measured in volunteers. Analysis of variance and t tests were used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
Twelve patients had mild hepatitis; 18, moderate or severe hepatitis; and 10, cirrhosis. Mean HVTTs in control, mild hepatitis, moderate or severe hepatitis, and cirrhosis groups were 38.3 seconds +/- 2.4 (standard error), 47.5 seconds +/- 6.5, 29.5 seconds +/- 10.8, and 17.6 seconds +/- 5.0, respectively, with Levovist (P < .001) and 29.4 seconds +/- 6.9, 27.4 seconds +/- 9.3, 22.9 seconds +/- 4.7, and 16.4 seconds +/- 4.9, respectively, with SonoVue (P < .001). HVTT decreased as severity increased at imaging with both contrast agents. There was no significant difference in HVTT between mild and moderate hepatitis groups with SonoVue; however, there were significant differences in HVTT between all patient groups with Levovist. HVTT of SonoVue was shorter than that of Levovist in all groups (P < .001) except the cirrhosis group; in this group, HVTT of the two contrast agents was similar (P = .05). No difference was observed in mean cardiopulmonary transit time for SonoVue or Levovist (9.1 seconds +/- 2.4 [standard error] and 8.4 seconds +/- 2.5, respectively, P = .18).


CONCLUSIONS
HVTT was significantly shorter with SonoVue than with Levovist; there was no significant difference in cardiopulmonary transit time.
Lim
Adrian K P
AK
Imaging Sciences Department, Medical Research Council Clinical Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Rd, London W12 0HS, England. a.lim@imperial.ac.uk
Patel
Nayna
N
Eckersley
Robert J
RJ
Goldin
Robert D
RD
Thomas
Howard C
HC
Cosgrove
David O
DO
Taylor-Robinson
Simon D
SD
Blomley
Martin J K
MJ
D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D045423:Microbubbles; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012016:Reference Values; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; D011134:Polysaccharides; C420843:contrast agent BR1; C059891:SHU 508; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride