Table 1
Commercially Available Ultrasound Contrast Agents
| Name | Manufacturer | Year Approved | Shell Composition | Gas | Approved Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optison | General Electric Healthcare | 1986 | Denatured albumin | Octafluropropane | Left ventricular opacification |
| Definity | Lantheus Medical | 2011 | Phospholipid | Octafluropropane | Heart, liver, kidney imaging |
| SonoVue | Bracco Diagnostics | 2011 | Phospholipid | Sulphur hexafluoride | Heart, liver, breast |
Table 2
Major Adverse Effects of Common Cardiovascular Tests
| Procedure | Adverse Events | Event Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Stress Test | Myocardial infarction/death | 1 in 2,500 |
| Dobutamine Stress Test | Myocardial Infarction/ ventricular fibrillation | 1 in 2,000 |
| High Osmolality Iodinated Contrast Agents | Potentially life-threatening allergic reactions | 1 in 500 |
| High Osmolality Iodinated Contrast Agents | Potentially life-threatening allergic reactions | 1 in 5,000 |
| Cardiac Catheterization | Serious arrhythmias, myocardial infarction/death/neurological event, vascular complication, Contrast reaction | 1 in 500 |
| Ultrasound contrast agents | Anaphylactoid reaction (pseudo-allergy) | 1 in 15,000 |
| Ultrasound contrast agents | Fatal allergic reaction | 1 in 500,000 |