Dose-response Relationship of SonoVue and Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound:An Experimental Study in Healthy Rabbits / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose To study the effects of different doses of ultrasound contrast agent SonoVue upon contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the kidney of healthy rabbits, and to seek the optimal dose of SonoVue. Materials and Methods CEUS was performed in 10 healthy rabbits with GE LOGIQ-E9 by using 8 different doses of SonoVue (ranging from 0.02 ml/kg to 0.16 ml/kg). The quantitative parameters of the time-intensity curve (TIC) were measured and statistically compared. Results The TICs showed that the peak intensity (PI) and the area under curve (AUC) increased with dose when the doses ranged from 0.02 ml/kg to 0.10 ml/kg (r=0.962 and 0.965, P<0.05); when the dose further increased, AUC had little change but PI decreased reversely. The arrival time (AT) shortened along with the increase of the SonoVue dose (r= - 0.917, P<0.05). The dose had a positive correlation with time to peak (r=0.49, P<0.05). Conclusion The parameters of TIC are influenced intensely by different doses of SonoVue. It is important to realize the relationship between SonoVue doses and its effects upon contrast-enhancement ultrasound in microcirculatory quantification. The dose of 0.10 ml/kg appears to be the optimal dose for CEUS in examining kidney of healthy rabbit.