Glomerular capillary hemorrhage induced in rats by diagnostic ultrasound with gas-body contrast agent produces intratubular obstruction.

Glomerular capillary hemorrhage (GCH) induced by ultrasonic cavitation during diagnostic imaging represents a unique contrast agent-related nephron injury. Consequences of GCH during 1.5-MHz diagnostic ultrasound with contrast agent were examined by histologic methods in rats. Definity was infused at 10 microl/kg/min for 5 min at the start of 8 min of intermittent image-exposure, with 2.3 MPa in situ peak rarefactional pressure amplitude. Kidney samples were taken for histology at 5 min, 30 min, 4 h, 2 d, 1 week and 4 weeks post exposure. In addition, samples were taken at 4 h from groups treated with heparin or aminocaproic acid. GCH was found in 61% of glomeruli in the center of the scan plane 5 min after exposure, which declined (p < 0.05) to 36.3% after 4 h. The width of Bowman's space was significantly increased for glomeruli with GCH relative to glomeruli without GCH (p < 0.05), consistent with tubular obstruction. Antibody staining revealed fibrin clotting in Bowman's space in 4-h samples and this persisted in the 2-d samples. Heparin reduced and aminocaproic acid increased the GCH seen in 4-h samples. Tubular dilation was evident with injury to the epithelium after 2 d. After one week, areas of inflammatory cell infiltration were present. After four weeks, areas of interstitial fibrosis were revealed by Masson's trichrome stain. The consequences of GCH induced by diagnostic ultrasound with contrast agents include rupture of glomerular capillaries, procoagulant activity resulting in intratubular obstruction, and the potential for progression of the resulting tubular injury toward interstitial fibrosis.