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Thromb Haemost 2003; 89(03): 583-589
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1613390
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2MHz ultrasound enhances t-PA-mediated thrombolysis: comparison of continuous versus pulsed ultrasound and standing versus travelling acoustic waves

Stefan Pfaffenberger
1   Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria
,
Branka Devcic-Kuhar
2   Institute of General Physics, Vienna University of Technology, Austria
,
Karem El-Rabadi
1   Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria
,
Martin Gröschl
2   Institute of General Physics, Vienna University of Technology, Austria
,
Walter S. Speidl
1   Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria
,
Thomas W. Weiss
1   Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria
,
Kurt Huber
1   Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria
,
Ewald Benes
2   Institute of General Physics, Vienna University of Technology, Austria
,
Gerald Maurer
1   Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria
,
Johann Wojta
1   Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria
,
Michael Gottsauner-Wolf
1   Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 18 September 2002

Accepted after revision after revision 16 December 2002

Publication Date:
09 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

In addition to fibrinolytic enzymes, ultrasound has the potential to enhance thrombolysis. High frequency ultrasound has the advantage that a combination of diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound with only one device is possible. Therefore, we investigated the optimal high frequency (2 MHz) ultrasound field characteristics and application mode in vitro. Continuous ultrasound significantly enhanced rt-PA mediated thrombolysis: in a travelling wave field thrombolysis was augmented by 49.0 ± 14.7% and in a standing wave field by 34.8 ± 7.3%. In an intermittent application mode (1Hz, 10Hz, 100Hz, 1kHz) most efficient results were obtained for both wave fields using 1 Hz (46.4 ± 10.7% and 39.1 ± 6.6%, respectively). Referring to a possible in vivo application our in vitro data suggests that an intermittent application of a 2 MHz high frequency ultrasound using a travelling wave field would be the most potent application for lysing blood clots.

Keywords

Ultrasound thrombolysis - standing and travelling wave field - continuous and pulsed sonication mode - D-dimer - fibrinolysis
 

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