New cardiology guidelines require use of ultrasound enhancing agent during stress echo for perfusion

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New international cardiology guidelines require the use of an ultrasound enhancing agent during stress echocardiograms to assess myocardial perfusion in patients with ischemia, as well as left ventricular heart function, according to a British cardiologist who is a co-author of the guidelines.

“Not using an ultrasound enhancing agent is akin to depriving patients of the benefit of the test, thereby compromising the management of the patients,” Dr. Roxy Senior said Thursday at the annual Advances in Contrast Ultrasound conference in Chicago. Dr. Senior is a professor of clinical cardiology at the National Heart and Lung Institute of the Imperial College London and a member of the Board of Directors of the International Contrast Ultrasound Society.

According to Dr. Senior, contrast enhanced stress echocardiograms are now considered “Class 1” imaging tests under the newly released 2024 European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for the Management of Acute Coronary Syndromes.

“That means if you don’t use it, you are doing a disservice to patients,” he added.

According to Dr. Senior, studies show that mortality is lowered by effectively evaluating ischemia so that appropriate treatment may be timely implemented.

“Lives are saved when ultrasound enhancing agents are used to look at perfusion as well as heart function,” he said.

Dr. Senior also implored the ultrasound industry to improve their equipment so that ultrasound machines more effectively leverage the benefits of ultrasound enhancing agents.

“Progress has stalled since 2010, but these guidelines create an important opportunity for the vendors while also setting out what is needed for patient care,” he said.

Ultrasound enhancing agents are comprised of suspensions of tiny injectable “microbubbles” that do not contain dye, create no known risk of kidney damage or deposit of contrast media in the brain, and do not expose patients or hospital staff to ionizing radiation.

Ultrasound contrast agents are currently available worldwide from Bracco, Lantheus and GE Healthcare.

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