JUM Track the topics, authors and articles important to you
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
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 Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Jiménez, C.
Right arrow Articles by Selgas, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Jiménez, C.
Right arrow Articles by Selgas, R.
© 2008 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
J Ultrasound Med 27:1607-1615 • 0278-4297

In Situ Kidney Insonation With Microbubble Contrast Agents Does Not Cause Renal Tissue Damage in a Porcine Model

Carlos Jiménez, MD, PhD, Raquel de Gracia, MD, Alfredo Aguilera, MD, Sergio Alonso, MD, Antonio Cirugeda, MD, Javier Benito, DVM, Rita María Regojo, MD, Río Aguilar, MD, PhD, Andrea Warlters, MSc, Rosa Gómez, BS, Carlota Largo, DVM, PhD and Rafael Selgas, MD, PhD

Servicio de Nefrología (C.J., R.d.G., R.S.), Servicio de Urología (A.A., S.A.), Servicio de Cirugía Experimental (J.B., C.L.), and Servicio de Anatomía Patológica (R.M.R.), Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain; Servicio de Nefrología, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Madrid, Spain (A.C.); Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Vall d'Hebrón, Barcelona, Spain (R.A.); Instituto de Investigación Nefrológica Reina Sofía, Madrid, Spain (C.J., R.S.); and Siemens Medical Solutions, Madrid, Spain (A.W., R.G.).

Address correspondence to Carlos Jiménez, MD, PhD, Servicio de Nefrología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, PO Castellana 261, 28046 Madrid, Spain., E-mail: cjimenezm.hulp{at}salud.madrid.org

Objective. Knowledge and quantification of the microcirculation are very important for estimating the status of an organ. Real-time contrast-enhanced sonography assesses microvascular tissue perfusion. This technique has been proposed as innocuous; however, data from experimental animals (rats) have shown renal interstitial microhemorrhage after the procedure. Therefore, we developed a porcine model to explore potential renal damage that in situ exposure might cause. Methods. Kidneys from 8 anesthetized pigs were surgically exposed. An ultrasound contrast agent (sulfur hexafluoride) was infused through the femoral vein in a continuous perfusion. Destructive ultrasonic flashes were applied with a high mechanical index over only 1 kidney (the contralateral kidney was used as a control). Blinded histologic and laboratory analyses were performed to reveal any lesions. Results. Histologic analysis of the kidney samples showed no evidence of renal damage. Biochemical parameters that could represent renal tissue damage and hemoglobin levels did not change after the microbubble-ultrasound interaction. Conclusions. The ultrasound contrast agent-ultrasound interaction in anesthetized pig kidneys under the output level for the imaging visualization and microbubble destruction used did not cause tissue damage. Our results suggest that this procedure could be used in humans for regular analysis of the kidney microcirculation with minimal risk of tissue damage.

Key Words: contrast-enhanced sonography • insonated kidney • microbubble contrast • microbubble sonography • ultrasound contrast agent

Abbreviations: CES, contrast-enhanced sonography • CPS, contrast pulse sequencing • MI, mechanical index

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2008 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.