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Transthoracic Speckle Tracking Echocardiography for the Quantitative Assessment of Left Ventricular Myocardial Deformation
09:05

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[Contrast echocardiography: from diagnosis to treatment]

M Peltier1, A E Dubart, C Tribouilloy

  • 1Service de Cardiologie B, CHU d'Amiens, Hôpital Sud, Amiens.

Archives Des Maladies Du Coeur Et Des Vaisseaux
|July 13, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Contrast echocardiography uses microbubbles to visualize heart perfusion and function. New research explores using these microbubbles for targeted drug delivery to heart cells, opening therapeutic possibilities.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Medical Imaging
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Contrast echocardiography is a standard tool in laboratories, offering insights into myocardial perfusion beyond conventional imaging.
  • Validated applications include assessing left ventricular ejection fraction, detecting coronary stenosis, and identifying the no-reflow phenomenon in myocardial infarction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the evolving role of contrast echocardiography beyond diagnostic imaging.
  • To investigate the potential of microbubbles as vectors for therapeutic agent delivery in cardiovascular medicine.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing contrast echocardiography at rest and during stress tests for enhanced myocardial perfusion assessment.
  • Leveraging advances in microbubble-ultrasound interactions to explore therapeutic applications.

Main Results:

  • Contrast echocardiography provides crucial information on myocardial perfusion, validated in various cardiac conditions.
  • Microbubbles are being investigated not only as vascular tracers but also as carriers for active molecules, enabling detection of angiogenesis, thrombi, and inflammation.

Conclusions:

  • Contrast echocardiography is expanding its utility from diagnostics to therapeutics.
  • Preliminary animal studies suggest microbubbles can be engineered for targeted drug or genetic material delivery to cardiomyocytes.

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