Optison (FS069) disrupts the blood-brain barrier in rats

Optison is a new echocardiographic contrast agent, designed for IV injectio n, that is very useful in delineating cardiac structures during ultrasound examination. Because Optison could be a valuable adjunct in the diagnosis a nd evaluation of congenital heart disease, this study was undertaken to ass ess its effects on the blood-brain barrier when introduced directly in the cerebral circulation, as might occur with some congenital lesions. In this study, Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized, and Optison, at various dosag es, was injected into the carotid artery. After this, Evans blue dye, a mar ker for blood-brain barrier disruption, was injected at different time inte rvals. Gross and histologic examination of the animals' brains revealed dis ruption of the blood-brain barrier that appeared to be Optison-dosage-depen dent. Although the mechanism for this disruption is unclear, it may be rela ted to the use of octofluoropropane gas used in the Optison as a contrast m edium. Further studies are necessary to determine the pathologic consequenc es of Optison's effects on the blood-brain barrier.