title: The acute effect of an echo-contrast agent on right ventricular dimensions and contractility in pigs.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Athens Medical School, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece. dimbramos@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bramos
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsirikos
authors.forename: Giorgos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kottis
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pamboucas
authors.forename: Vichy
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kostopoulou
authors.forename: Crysanthi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trika
authors.forename: Ignatios
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ikonomidis
authors.forename: Savvas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toumanidis
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride