The acute effect of an echo-contrast agent on right ventricular dimensions and contractility in pigs.
BACKGROUND
: The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of the second-generation ultrasound contrast agent (2nd GUCA) SonoVue on right ventricular (RV) dimensions and contractility and to investigate whether a dose-related interaction exists between the contrast agent and RV function.


METHODS
: Twenty-eight pigs were randomly assigned to 3 groups for intravenous administration: a low-dose group (0.5 cc of SonoVue), a high-dose group (1 cc of SonoVue), and a control group (2 cc of normal saline). RV end-diastolic (EDD) and end-systolic dimension (ESD) and pulmonary pressure (PP) were measured, and the fractional shortening (FS%) was calculated before the administration of SonoVue or normal saline and after the return of the RV-EDD or PP to the baseline value. The time to reach maximal RV-EDD or PP value and the time until the return of RV-EDD or PP to the baseline value were also measured.


RESULTS
: Contrast agent infusion was followed by an acute transient increase of RV-EDD, RV-ESD, FS, and PP in both the low-dose and high-dose groups, but the increase was greater in the high-dose group. FS and PP did not change significantly in the control group. A dose-dependent delay in the time from baseline to maximum RV-EDD and PP was detected in the high-dose group (P < 0.001 for both) as well as a delay in the return from maximum to the baseline values (P < 0.001 for both).


CONCLUSIONS
: Administration of the 2nd GUCA SonoVue is associated with an acute, transient, dose-dependent RV dilatation and an increase in pulmonary pressure with a consequent impact on RV contractility.
Bramos
Dimitris
D
Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Athens Medical School, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece. dimbramos@yahoo.gr
Tsirikos
Nikolaos
N
Kottis
Giorgos
G
Pamboucas
Constantinos
C
Kostopoulou
Vichy
V
Trika
Crysanthi
C
Ikonomidis
Ignatios
I
Toumanidis
Savvas
S
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003971:Diastole / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004452:Echocardiography; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013552:Swine; D013599:Systole / Q000187:drug effects; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000187:drug effects*
D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride