Use of sonicated albumin (Infoson) to enhance arterial spectral and color Doppler imaging.

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of an ultrasound contrast medium (UCM), Infoson, on Doppler examination of stenotic arteries.
METHODS: Stenoses were created in the common carotid artery of six piglets, and examined with spectral Doppler and color Doppler imaging during UCM infusion in the left ventricle.
RESULTS: UCM caused a mean increase in recorded maximal systolic and end-diastolic velocities of 5% and 6%, respectively, while blood flow remained constant. Increased spectral intensity with UCM was accompanied by spectral broadening. Reduction of spectral intensity by adjustment of Doppler gain counteracted the velocity effects and the spectral broadening. With color Doppler, UCM caused dose-dependent color artifacts outside the artery. Flow in narrow stenoses could be visualized with UCM.
CONCLUSION: The effects of UCM on velocity measurements were slight, and were related to changes in spectral intensity. With color Doppler, UCM may facilitate flow detection, but color artifacts may interfere.