© 2003 by BMJ Publishing Group & British Cardiac Society
MINI-SYMPOSIUM
Contrast echocardiography: from left ventricular opacification to myocardial perfusion. Are the promises to be realised?
Correspondence to:
Dr Mark J Monaghan, Cardiology Department, King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK; monaghan@compuserve.com
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
Virtually every cardiac imaging technique utilises contrast agents into the routine practice of echocardiography has been slow. The commercial and clinical promise of contrast echo has not yet been fulfilled and we are truly standing at the crossroad between success and failure of the technique. In this introductory article to the mini-symposium on contrast echocardiography, I attempt to give a general overview of the current clinical role of echo contrast agents. Three further articles examine in more critical detail where we currently stand with respect to the role of contrast for left ventricular opacification, for perfusion imaging during stress and in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
Patent issues, cost, reimbursement, difficult regulatory issues in the USA, and a smaller market than originally envisaged has led a number of contrast agent manufacturers to review their position. Some agents have been withdrawn from development and some put on hold. Instrument manufacturers have
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