2MHz ultrasound enhances t-PA-mediated thrombolysis: comparison of continuous versus pulsed ultrasound and standing versus travelling acoustic waves

Stefan Pfaffenberger; Branka Devcic-Kuhar; Karem El-Rabadi; Martin Gröschl; Walter S. Speidl; Thomas W. Weiss; Kurt Huber; Ewald Benes; Gerald Maurer; Johann Wojta; Michael Gottsauner-Wolf

doi:10.1055/s-0037-1613390

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2003; 89(03): 583-589
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1613390

New Technologies and Diagnostic Tools

Schattauer GmbH

2MHz ultrasound enhances t-PA-mediated thrombolysis: comparison of continuous versus pulsed ultrasound and standing versus travelling acoustic waves

Stefan Pfaffenberger

¹Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria

,

Branka Devcic-Kuhar

²Institute of General Physics, Vienna University of Technology, Austria

,

Karem El-Rabadi

¹Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria

,

Martin Gröschl

²Institute of General Physics, Vienna University of Technology, Austria

,

Walter S. Speidl

¹Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria

,

Thomas W. Weiss

¹Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria

,

Kurt Huber

¹Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria

,

Ewald Benes

²Institute of General Physics, Vienna University of Technology, Austria

,

Gerald Maurer

¹Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria

,

Johann Wojta

¹Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria

,

Michael Gottsauner-Wolf

¹Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Vienna, Austria

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

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

Full Text

References

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