Echocardiographic contrast imaging of the human right heart: a multicenter study of the efficacy, safety, and reproducibility of intravenous SHU-454.

The contrast agent SHU-454 was intravenously injected in 103 patients during echocardiography: 37 mL/patient +/- 7 ml/patient. The quality of the contrast effect was optimal in 13, good in 51, sufficient in 30, and poor in 9 patients; reproducibility was optimal in 38, good in 46, sufficient in 17, and poor in 2 patients. Taste sensation, arm discomfort, or atypical chest pain occurred in 5 patients, premature ventricular contractions in 3. An isolated anginal attack occurred in 1 patient with frequent episodes at rest. A slight reduction in hematologic indices was attributed to hemodilution. Thus, SHU-454 produces a good and reproducible contrast effect with tolerable side effects.