Grey scale enhancement by a new self-made contrast agent in early cirrhotic stage of rabbit liver.
BACKGROUND
The development of new ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) has become one of the most promising fields in ultrasound medicine. This paper evaluates a new self-made contrast agent enhancement effect developed to study the fibrotic stages of the liver in perfusion models in vivo.


METHODS
We constructed experimental models of hepatic fibrosis involving five stages from F0 to F4 via administration of CCL4 (0.01 ml/kg BW) every 3 days for 3 months. The intrahepatic circulatory time of the contrast agent was analyzed via an image and Cine-loop display. Calculations of the perfusion-related parameters including the peak signal intensity (PSI) and peak signal intensity time (PIT) of the portal vein and parenchyma were obtained from an analysis of the time-acoustic intensity curve.


RESULTS
Hepatic artery to vein transmit time (HA-HVTT) was significantly shorter at F4 stage (mean 5.1 seconds) compared with those in other stages (mean 8.3 s, 7.5 s, 6.9 s, 6.6 s, P < 0.01). The average PSI difference of PV-parenchyma was 13.62 dB in F4 stage, demonstrating significant differences between F4 stage and other early stages (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that the new self-made contrast agent is capable of indicating intrahepatic hemodynamic changes. HA-HVTT and the PSI difference of the microbubble perfusion in liver parenchyma and PV were considered to differentiate the degree of hepatic fibrosis between F4 and other early stages.
Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China. lilyzhang319_20@hotmail.com <lilyzhang319_20@hotmail.com>
Li
L
Zhang
Yun-You
YY
Duan
Ji-Kai
JK
Yin
Ji-Hong
JH
Cui
Yong
Y
Zhang
Tie-Sheng
TS
Cao
D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006503:Hepatic Veins; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
D003287:Contrast Media; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride