Comparison of platelet activation and hepatic cell damage of rats induced by two ultrasound contrast agents

Abstract We compared the platelet activation and rat hepatic cell of damage induced by two ultrasound contrast agents. Two ultrasound contrast agents are Levovist and DD-723. Both agents caused platelet activation at higher concentrations (×5–10 clinical levels), and the effects were greater in Levovist. Both contrast agents caused vacuolation and round deposits in the hepatocytes, the damages were greater in the Levovist groups. Also, microbubbles of DD-723 were observed in the Kupffer cells and in the hepatocytes, but microbubbles of Levovist were not.