title: Effects of microbubbles on transcranial Doppler ultrasound-assisted intracranial urokinase thrombolysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the efficacy of microbubbles in transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD)-assisted urokinase thrombolysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male New Zealand white rabbits (N=32) were randomly divided into 2 groups, a urokinase group and a combined urokinase plus microbubble group. The middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded by injecting autologous blood clots through the carotid artery. In the urokinase plus microbubble group, sulfur hexafluoride (SonoVue) microbubbles were injected intravenously immediately after intravenous injection of urokinase. The 2 groups were monitored by TCD from before until 2h after thrombolysis, and the hemodynamic changes and infarct size were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The urokinase alone group had 1 case of complete recanalization and 4 cases of partial recanalization (recanalization rate, 31.3%). The urokinase plus microbubble group had 3 cases of complete recanalization and 6 cases of partial recanalization (recanalization rate, 56.3%). The average size of the infarction foci was 13.9% in the urokinase group and 9.1% in the urokinase plus microbubble group (P=0.025). Pathological examination revealed no cerebral hemorrhage in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of microbubbles enhanced the effects of transcranial Doppler ultrasound-assisted urokinase thrombolysis.
authors: Department of Internal Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China. lwshyd@163.com
authors: Wei-song
authors: WS
authors: Liu
authors: Zhen-zhen
authors: ZZ
authors: Huang
authors: Xian-wang
authors: XW
authors: Wang
authors: Jin
authors: J
authors: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020767:Intracranial Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D045423:Microbubbles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D013010:Sonication / Q000379:methods*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator