perflubutane

Action and Spectrum

Actions and spectrum: 

Action: 

• Ultrasound Contrast Enhancement: perflubutane enhances the visibility of blood vessels and organs during ultrasound imaging. When injected into the bloodstream, it behaves as a gas microbubble that resonates in response to ultrasound waves. This enhances the reflection of ultrasound signals, improving the contrast and visibility of structures within the body. 
• Improved Imaging Resolution: The microbubbles formed by perflubutane create a strong contrast between blood vessels and surrounding tissues, allowing for improved visualization and characterization of lesions or abnormalities. 

Spectrum: 

• Vascular Imaging: perflubutane is primarily used for vascular imaging, allowing healthcare professionals to visualize blood flow and assess the structure and function of organs and tissues. 
• Cardiac Imaging: It is commonly used in cardiac imaging studies to assess blood flow within the heart and major vessels. 
• Liver Imaging: perflubutane is also used in liver imaging to assess vascularization and detect lesions. 
• Enhanced Doppler Imaging: Doppler ultrasound, which measures blood flow, can be enhanced with perflubutane, providing additional information about blood circulation in specific areas. 

Drug Interaction

Adverse Reaction

Frequency not defined 

Headache 

Abdominal pain 

Increased blood pressure 

Thirst 

Black Box Warning

Black Box Warning: 

There were no specific black box warnings associated with perflubutane. 

Contraindication / Caution

Contraindication/Caution: 

Contraindication: 

• Allergy or Hypersensitivity: Individuals with a known allergy or hypersensitivity to perflubutane or any of its components should avoid its use. 
• Severe Cardiovascular Conditions: In some cases, contrast agents may be contraindicated in individuals with severe cardiovascular conditions, such as recent heart attacks or unstable angina. 
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: The use of contrast agents is approached with caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The potential risks & benefits are carefully considered in these situations.

Caution: 

• Renal Impairment: Individuals with pre-existing renal impairment may be at an increased risk of complications. Monitoring renal function before and after the administration of perflubutane may be warranted. 
• Thyroid Dysfunction: Some contrast agents may have an impact on thyroid function. Caution may be necessary in individuals with pre-existing thyroid disorders. 
• Age and Pediatric Use: The safety and efficacy of perflubutane in pediatric populations, particularly in infants, may require additional consideration. Caution may be exercised when using contrast agents in these populations.

Comorbidities: 

• Thyroid Disorders: Some contrast agents may have an impact on thyroid function, and caution may be necessary in individuals with pre-existing thyroid disorders. 
• Cardiovascular Conditions: Individuals with severe cardiovascular conditions, such as recent heart attacks or unstable angina, may require special consideration and careful monitoring. 

Pregnancy / Lactation

Pregnancy consideration: pregnancy category: not assigned 

Lactation: excreted into human milk: unknown  

Pregnancy category: 

• Category A: well-controlled and Satisfactory studies show no risk to the fetus in the first or later trimester. 
• Category B: there was no evidence of risk to the fetus in animal studies, and there were not enough studies on pregnant women. 
• Category C: there was evidence of risk of adverse effects in animal reproduction studies, and no adequate evidence in human studies must take care of potential risks in pregnant women.   
• Category D: adequate data with sufficient evidence of human fetal risk from various platforms, but despite the potential risk, and used only in emergency cases for potential benefits. 
• Category X: Drugs listed in this category outweigh the risks over benefits. Hence these categories of drugs need to be avoided by pregnant women. 
• Category N: There is no data available for the drug under this category. 

Pharmacology

Pharmacology: 

perflubutane, a perfluorinated gas, functions as a contrast agent in medical imaging, specifically in contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Unlike traditional pharmacological agents, perflubutane does not have a pharmacological effect on physiological processes. Instead, it serves as a microbubble contrast agent that enhances the visibility of blood vessels and organs during ultrasound imaging.

When perflubutane microbubbles are injected into the bloodstream, they resonate in response to ultrasound waves, creating enhanced echoes that improve the contrast between blood vessels and surrounding tissues.

This contrast enhancement allows healthcare professionals to obtain clearer and more detailed images of vascular structures, aiding in the diagnosis and characterization of various medical conditions.

The microbubbles are eventually eliminated from the body, and perflubutane does not undergo traditional pharmacokinetic processes. The primary pharmacological action of perflubutane is related to its ability to improve the imaging resolution and visualization of blood flow during ultrasound procedures.  

Pharmacodynamics: 

• Contrast Enhancement: perflubutane consists of microbubbles that are introduced into the bloodstream. These microbubbles serve as acoustic contrast agents during ultrasound imaging. 
• Resonance and Echo Enhancement: When exposed to ultrasound waves, perflubutane microbubbles resonate and oscillate. This behaviour enhances the reflection of ultrasound signals, producing stronger echoes compared to surrounding tissues. 
• Improved Image Contrast: The enhanced echoes generated by perflubutane microbubbles result in improved contrast between blood vessels and surrounding tissues. This increased contrast allows for clearer and more detailed imaging of vascular structures. 
• Real-time Imaging: perflubutane enables real-time imaging of blood flow, facilitating the assessment of perfusion and vascular dynamics within organs and tissues. 
• Diagnostic Applications: The pharmacodynamics of perflubutane contribute to its utility in diagnosing various medical conditions, including liver lesions, cardiac abnormalities, and vascular disorders. The improved imaging resolution aids in the characterization of lesions and abnormalities. 

Pharmacokinetics: 

• Absorption: perflubutane is administered through intravenous injection. Upon injection, the microbubbles of perflubutane are introduced into the bloodstream. 
• Distribution: The microbubbles distribute within the bloodstream, reaching the vascular structures throughout the body. Distribution is primarily dictated by blood flow dynamics. 
• Metabolism: perflubutane is a stable perfluorinated gas encapsulated in microbubbles. It does not undergo traditional metabolic processes in the body. 
• Elimination and excretion: Microbubbles formed by perflubutane are eliminated from the body. The elimination process involves dissolution and clearance, with the microbubbles being exhaled through the lungs. The elimination half-life of perflubutane microbubbles is short, contributing to their rapid clearance from the bloodstream.

Adminstartion

Administration: 

• Informed Consent: Patients are typically provided with information about the contrast agent, the imaging procedure, and any potential risks or side effects. Informed consent is obtained before administration. 
• Intravenous Injection: perflubutane is administered intravenously through a vein, usually in the arm. A healthcare professional will use a sterile syringe and needle to inject the contrast agent. 
• Real-time Imaging: Once injected, perflubutane microbubbles circulate in the bloodstream and enhance the visibility of blood vessels during real-time ultrasound imaging. 
• Imaging Procedure: The imaging procedure is conducted while the contrast agent is actively circulating in the bloodstream. The enhanced echoes produced by the microbubbles provide improved contrast and visualization of vascular structures. 
• Monitoring: Patients may be monitored during and after the imaging procedure for any immediate reactions or side effects. Monitoring may include vital signs and observation for signs of allergic reactions. 

Patient Information Leaflet

Patient information leaflet 

Generic Name: perflubutane 

Pronounced: (Per-floo-byoo-tane)  

Why do we use perflubutane? 

perflubutane is a contrast agent used in medical imaging, specifically in contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Its primary use is to enhance the visibility of blood vessels and improve imaging resolution during ultrasound procedures.  perflubutane is utilized to enhance the visualization of blood vessels, allowing healthcare professionals to assess blood flow dynamics, detect abnormalities, and characterize vascular lesions.

In cardiac ultrasound studies, perflubutane can enhance the imaging of the heart and major vessels, providing valuable information about cardiac function and detecting abnormalities. perflubutane is frequently employed in liver imaging to assess perfusion, vascularization, and lesions within the liver.

It aids in the characterization of liver lesions and differentiation between benign and malignant masses. The contrast agent is used in renal imaging to evaluate blood flow through kidneys and detect abnormalities in renal vasculature.