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Emerging clinical applications for contrast echocardiography

A. Spinazzi*

Bracco Diagnostics Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.A.

* Correspondence: Alberto Spinazzi, MD, Bracco Diagnostics Inc., 107 College Road East, Princeton, NJ 08540, U.S.A.

Abstract

SonoVue (Bracco, Milan, Italy) and the other last-generation ultrasound contrast agents (USCAs) have been shown to improve the detection of the endocardial border during rest and stress echocardiography in patients with impaired transthoracic image quality, thus allowing greater accuracy and precision in the assessment of both global and regional left ventricular function. Very exciting is the use of the last-generation USCAs as blood flow tracers to obtain non-invasive images of the myocardium that reflect myocardial perfusion (myocardial contrast echocardiography [MCE]). From preliminary results it appears that NICE may offer diagnostic information additive to and independent of that obtainable with unenhanced echocardiography, and may play a major role in the evaluation, management and follow-up of patients with coronary artery disease.

Key Words: Coronary artery disease • myocardial contrast echocardiography • SonoVue • ultrasound contrast agent

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