Abstract
Rapid advances in microbubble pharmacology together with novel ultrasound technologies for contrast-specific imaging of the macro- and microcirculation have led to a number of new applications for assessment of stroke patients. In particular, ultrasound perfusion imaging has added new perspectives for diagnosis and monitoring of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Recently, real-time brain perfusion imaging of middle cerebral artery infarctions has been introduced and new quantitative algorithms for evaluation of regional cerebral blood flow are being applied for the first time in humans. Microbubbles enable visualization of carotid artery plaque neovascularization to detect plaque vulnerability. There is growing interest in therapeutic applications of ultrasound, particularly in the field of sonothrombolysis. The treatment of acute ischemic stroke can be improved by ultrasound and microbubbles in combination with thrombolytic drugs. Excitingly, ultrasound and microbubbles may be effective in clot lysis of ischemic stroke even without additional thrombolytic drugs. New therapeutic avenues include opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) with ultrasound and microbubbles to enable novel drug delivery to the brain. Microbubbles are also assuming a central role in ultrasound molecular imaging with many targets of interest for evaluating pathophysiologic processes involved in cerebrovascular disease including angiogenesis, inflammation, and thrombus formation.
Keywords: Microbubbles, ultrasound, stroke, therapy, sonothrombolysis, perfusion
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Why and how do Microbubbles Enhance the Effectiveness of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Interventions in Cerebrovascular Disease?
Volume: 18 Issue: 15
Author(s): Stephen Meairs, Rolf Kern and Angelika Alonso
Affiliation:
Keywords: Microbubbles, ultrasound, stroke, therapy, sonothrombolysis, perfusion
Abstract: Rapid advances in microbubble pharmacology together with novel ultrasound technologies for contrast-specific imaging of the macro- and microcirculation have led to a number of new applications for assessment of stroke patients. In particular, ultrasound perfusion imaging has added new perspectives for diagnosis and monitoring of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Recently, real-time brain perfusion imaging of middle cerebral artery infarctions has been introduced and new quantitative algorithms for evaluation of regional cerebral blood flow are being applied for the first time in humans. Microbubbles enable visualization of carotid artery plaque neovascularization to detect plaque vulnerability. There is growing interest in therapeutic applications of ultrasound, particularly in the field of sonothrombolysis. The treatment of acute ischemic stroke can be improved by ultrasound and microbubbles in combination with thrombolytic drugs. Excitingly, ultrasound and microbubbles may be effective in clot lysis of ischemic stroke even without additional thrombolytic drugs. New therapeutic avenues include opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) with ultrasound and microbubbles to enable novel drug delivery to the brain. Microbubbles are also assuming a central role in ultrasound molecular imaging with many targets of interest for evaluating pathophysiologic processes involved in cerebrovascular disease including angiogenesis, inflammation, and thrombus formation.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Meairs Stephen, Kern Rolf and Alonso Angelika, Why and how do Microbubbles Enhance the Effectiveness of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Interventions in Cerebrovascular Disease?, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2012; 18 (15) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212800099982
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212800099982 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Remodelling of the Ca2+ Toolkit in Tumor Endothelium as a Crucial Responsible for the Resistance to Anticancer Therapies
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Endocannabinoid Regulation of Matrix Metalloproteinases: Implications in Ischemic Stroke
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry High-output Cardiac Failure: A Forgotten Phenotype in Clinical Practice
Current Cardiology Reviews Fiber-Optic Technologies in Laser-Based Therapeutics: Threads for a Cure
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Genetic Polymorphism of LDLR (rs688) is Associated with Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Current Neurovascular Research Impact of Pulmonary Vascular Resistances in Heart Transplantation for Congenital Heart Disease
Current Cardiology Reviews The Role of Venous Abnormalities in Neurological Disease
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials Hereditary Haemorrhagic Teleangiectasia: Diagnostic Imaging of Visceral Involvement
Current Pharmaceutical Design Regulation of Angiogenesis by the Small Heat Shock Protein αB-Crystallin
Current Angiogenesis (Discontinued) Heart Transplantation for Congenital Heart Disease in the First Year of Life
Current Cardiology Reviews Trefoil Factor Family (TFF) Peptides and their Different Roles in the Mucosal Innate Immune Defense and More: An Update
Current Medicinal Chemistry A Survey on Synthesis Processes of Structured Materials for Biomedical Applications: Iron-based Magnetic Nanoparticles, Polymeric Materials and Polymerization Processes
Current Pharmaceutical Design Prevention of Intracerebral Haemorrhage
Current Drug Targets Clinical and Forensic Signs Related to Cocaine Abuse
Current Drug Abuse Reviews SPECT Imaging and Cerebrovascular Disease
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) Current Management of Neonatal Liver Tumors
Current Pediatric Reviews Dealing with the Substance Abuse Epidemic and Infective Endocarditis:Clinical, Immunologic and Pathogenetic Aspects
Current Vascular Pharmacology Template-Mediated Biomineralization for Bone Tissue Engineering
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy New Vessel Formation in the Central Nervous System During Tumor Growth, Vascular Malformations, and Moyamoya
Current Neurovascular Research Radiation-Induced Neuroinflammation and Radiation Somnolence Syndrome
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets