Volumetric quantification of in vitro sonothrombolysis with microbubbles using high-resolution optical coherence tomography.
Several in vitro and in vivo studies have established accelerated thrombolysis using ultrasound (US) induced microbubble (MB) cavitation. However, the mechanisms underlying MB mediated sonothrombolysis are still not completely elucidated. We performed three-dimensional (3-D) volumetric optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging before and after the application of contrast US to thrombus. The most dramatic reduction in clot volume was observed with US + MB + recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). Thrombus surface erosion in this group on the side of the thrombus exposed to MB and ultrasound was evident on the OCT images. This technique may assist in clarifying the mechanisms underlying sonothrombolysis, especially regarding the importance of US transducer orientation on lytic efficacy and the effects of MB cavitation on thrombus structure.
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC, Heart and Vascular Institute, The Center for Ultrasound Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.
Jong S
JS
Kim
Jonathan E
JE
Leeman
Larry
L
Kagemann
Francois T H
FT
Yu
Xucai
X
Chen
John J
JJ
Pacella
Joel S
JS
Schuman
Flordeliza S
FS
Villanueva
Kang
K
Kim
D001769:Blood; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D057086:High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D061185:Mechanical Thrombolysis / Q000379:methods*; D045423:Microbubbles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*