A comparison of the hemolytic potential of Optison (TM) and Albunex (R) inwhole human blood in vitro: Acoustic pressure, ultrasound frequency, donorand passive cavitation detection considerations

This project tested the hypothesis that a "second-generation'' ultrasound ( US) contrast agent (Optison((TM))), offering extended echogenicity over tha t of its "first-generation" predecessor (Albunex((R))), would have the grea ter potential for sonolysis of human erythrocytes in vitro, Whole human blo od, obtained from apparently healthy donors, was anticoagulated and subsequ ently exposed irt vitro to US in the presence of one of each or neither of the two US contrast agents. The US exposures were for 30 s and involved fre quency (1.0, 2.2 and 3.4 MHz) and amplitude (similar to2.8 to 0.38 mPa P-) regimens; pulse duration (200 mus) and interpulse interval (20 ms) were hel d constant, The data supported the hypothesis, with an overall ratio of sim ilar to2.5 for relative extent of background-corrected US-induced hemolysis of the Optison((TM))/Albunex((R)) regimens. Passive cavitation detection a nalyses corroborated the results obtained with hemolysis, (E-mail: morton_m iller@urmc.rochester.edu) (C) 2001 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medic ine & Biology.