Perflutren Lipid Microspheres

Perflutren Lipid Microspheres Brand Name– Definity

What is Perflutren Lipid Microspheres

Perflutren lipid microspheres for injection (Definity), is an intravenous diagnostic radiopaque contrast agent used in ultrasonography.

Perflutren is octafluoropropane, a fluorocarbon gas encapsulated in an outer lipid shell. During ultrasound examination, the difference in density between the gas-filled bubbles and the blood around them creates an increased level of contrast visible in the resulting ultrasound image.

The drug is most commonly used as a contrast agent to increase the diagnostic power of echocardiography to opacify the left ventricle and improve the delineation of the left ventricular endocardial borders.

The FDA approved the Definity perflutren lipid microspheres product in July 2001.

Indications

• echocardiography
• ultrasound imaging

For use in ultrasound imaging

to enhance echocardiography in patients with suboptimal echocardiograms to opacify the left ventricle and improve the delineation of the left ventricular endocardial borders

Side Effects

1. abdominal pain
2. agitation
3. agranulocytosis
4. anaphylactic shock
5. anaphylactoid reactions
6. angioedema
7. arthralgia
8. atrial fibrillation
9. back pain
10. blurred vision
11. bradycardia
12. bronchospasm
13. cardiac arrest
14. cardiopulmonary reaction
15. chest pain (unspecified)
16. coma
17. conjunctivitis
18. cough
19. diarrhea
20. dizziness
21. dysgeusia
22. dyspepsia
23. dyspnea
24. edema
25. eosinophilia
26. erythema
27. fatigue
28. fever
29. flushing
30. headache
31. hearing loss
32. hematoma
33. hot flashes
34. hyperhidrosis
35. hypertension
36. hypertonia
37. hypoesthesia
38. hypotension
39. hypoxia
40. injection site reaction
41. leukocytosis
42. leukopenia
43. nausea
44. palpitations
45. paresthesias
46. peripheral edema
47. pharyngitis
48. pruritus
49. rash
50. respiratory arrest
51. rhinitis
52. seizures
53. sinus tachycardia
54. supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
55. syncope
56. tremor
57. urticaria
58. ventricular fibrillation
59. ventricular tachycardia
60. vertigo
61. visual impairment
62. vomiting
63. wheezing
64. xerosis
65. xerostomia

Monitoring Parameters

• laboratory monitoring not necessary

Contraindications

• acute myocardial infarction
• arteriovenous shunt
• breast-feeding
• cardiopulmonary reaction
• heart failure
• intraarterial administration
• pregnancy
• ventricular arrhythmias

Interactions

There are no drug interactions associated with Perflutren Lipid Microspheres products.