ADMINISTRATION OF AN INTRAVENOUS PERFLUOROCARBON CONTRAST AGENT IMPROVES ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF LEFT-VENTRICULAR VOLUMES AND EJECTION FRACTION - COMPARISON WITH CINE MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine whether contras t-enhanced transthoracic echocardiography improves the evaluation of l eft ventricular (LV) volumes and ejection fraction (EF). Background. E chocardiographic assessment of LV volumes and EF is widely used but ma y be inaccurate when the endocardium is not completely visualized. Rec ently the intravenous (IV) administration of perfluorocarbon microbubb les has been shown to enhance opacification of the LV cavity, but the utility of these agents to improve the echocardiographic assessment of LV systolic function is unknown. Methods. In 40 subjects (29 men and 11 women, aged 24 to 81 years) an assessment of LV volumes and EF was performed with a magnetic resonance imaging examination, followed imme diately by a transthoracic echocardiogram before and after the intrave nous administration of 2% dodecafluoropentane emulsion (EchoGen; Sonus Pharmaceuticals, Bothell, Washington). Results. Contrast enhanced the echocardiographic assessment of LV end diastolic volume (p < 0.02), e nd systolic volume (p < 0.01) and LVEF (p < 0.03), The percentage of s ubjects in whom the correct echocardiographic classification EP was no rmal, mild to moderately depressed or severely reduced improved signif icantly after contrast enhancement (from 71% before contrast to 94% af ter, p < 0.03), These findings were most striking in the subjects with two or more adjacent endocardial segments not visualized at baseline, Conclusions. Administration of an intravenous contrast agent improves the ability to accurately assess LV volumes and EF in humans. Contras t enhancement is most useful in subjects with two or more adjacent end ocardial segments not seen at baseline. (C) 1998 by the American Colle ge of Cardiology.