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VARIOUS › CONTRAST MEDIA › ULTRASOUND CONTRAST MEDIA › Ultrasound contrast media
microparticles of galactose
V08DA02
Forms & Strengths
- Powder for injectable suspension: 994 mg galactose per vial (Levovist)
Adult Dosing
- Intravenous injection: 200 mg/mL to 400 mg/mL suspension
- Typical diagnostic dose ranges from 4 mL to 10 mL of prepared suspension depending on the imaging procedure and organ targeted
Pediatric Dosing
- Safety and efficacy in pediatric patients have not been established
- Use in children is generally not recommended unless specifically indicated by a specialist
Indications
- Contrast agent for ultrasound imaging of the heart (echocardiography)
- Enhancement of Doppler ultrasound signals of the blood vessels and hepatic lesions
Mechanism of Action
- Galactose microparticles encapsulate tiny air bubbles that act as effective ultrasound scatterers
- Increases acoustic impedance mismatch between blood and surrounding tissues, enhancing the echogenicity of blood and blood-pool contrast
Contraindications
- Known hypersensitivity to galactose or any component of the formulation
- Patients with galactosemia
- Severe right-to-left cardiac shunts
- Severe pulmonary hypertension
Adverse Reactions
- Transient headache
- Flushing
- Injection site pain or warmth
- Rare anaphylactoid reactions and hypersensitivity
Drug Interactions
- No formal drug-drug interaction studies have been performed
- Generally considered inert as an imaging contrast agent with minimal systemic pharmacologic interactions
Curated Content: Needs Vetting Before Put to Clinical Use