JUM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Schmiedl, U. P.
Right arrow Articles by Schlief, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Schmiedl, U. P.
Right arrow Articles by Schlief, R.

Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 17, Issue 2 75-80, Copyright © 1998 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Assessment of fetal and placental blood flow in primates using contrast enhanced ultrasonography

U. P. Schmiedl, K. Komarniski, T. C. Winter, J. A. Luna, D. R. Cyr, G. Ruppenthal and R. Schlief
Department of Radiology, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle 98195-7115, USA.

Ultrasonographic contrast agents that stay within the vascular space and do not cross the placenta may permit differentiation between the maternal and fetal portions of the placenta and may be clinically useful for diagnosis of placental abnormalities. This study was performed to assess the effects of Levovist (Schering AG, Berlin) on the placental circulation and to determine whether hemodynamic effects on the fetus occur. Ten studies were performed in five pregnant macaques (median weight, 9.15 kg; range, 6.15 to 11 kg; median gestational age, 121 days; range, 34 days to term) under anesthesia. Gray scale, color, and duplex Doppler sonographic scans of the fetus and placenta were acquired using a 5 MHz curved array transducer. Fetal heart rate, resistive index, and systolic-diastolic ratios were measured in the fetal middle cerebral artery, aorta, umbilical artery, and uterine artery before and after administration of contrast agent. The following dose regimen was tested: 5 ml of physiologic saline solution followed by 0.1 ml/kg of 300 mg/ml Levovist (diagnostic dose), 0.5 ml/kg of 400 mg/ml Levovist (maximum dose), and 5 ml physiologic saline solution. The order of diagnostic dose and maximal dose was randomized among animals. Color enhancement of the basal portions of the placenta was documented after administration of contrast agent. Heart rate and middle cerebral artery systolic-diastolic ratio did not change between baseline and injections. A 7% decrease of the resistive index from baseline to maximum dose was measured in the uterine artery (not significant). A 7.7% decrease in the systolic-diastolic ratio from baseline to maximum dose was recorded in the umbilical artery. However, an identical change was measured after saline solution was injected. The resistive index in the aorta increased by 2.6% from baseline to maximum dose, a change that was not significant (P > 0.5). Ultrasonographic contrast enhancement of the maternal circulation in placenta is demonstrated to be without significant effects on the fetal circulation as measured in this limited population.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Ultrasound MedHome page
J. S. Abramowicz
Ultrasonographic Contrast Media: Has the Time Come in Obstetrics and Gynecology?
J. Ultrasound Med., April 1, 2005; 24(4): 517 - 531.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1998 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.