Advances in Ultrasound Therapeutics

High mechanical index impulses from a diagnostic transducer are utilized in myocardial perfusion imaging, but can also be utilized therapeutically in three cardiovascular applications: (a) thrombus dissolution (sonothrombolysis), (b) improving microvascular flow in ischemic territories (sonoperfusion), and (c) targeted drug and nucleic acid delivery. The targeted therapeutic effect appears to be based on acoustic cavitation of the intravascular microbubbles which results in endothelial shear and pore formation, as well as mechanical destruction of thrombi.

Within the last 5 years, clinical trials have been performed in acute myocardial infarction demonstrating successful reductions in myocardial infarct size with sonothrombolysis added to current guideline-based treatment. In patients with severe peripheral arterial disease, brief improvements in calf microvascular blood flow have been observed for 1 h after 10 min of sonoperfusion therapy. Targeted ultrasound therapies are developing for prevention of microvascular obstruction in acute coronary syndromes and peripheral vascular disease.