# Perflutren protein-type A microspheres (ultrasound contrast)

Source: https://onco.cc/drugs/optison/  
OnCo record `optison` (Imaging agent). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Gas bubbles in a protein shell injected into a vein during a heart ultrasound to show the heart's pumping chamber more clearly.

## Summary

GE Healthcare's Optison (NDA 020899, first approved 31 December 1997) is indicated "for use in adult and pediatric patients with suboptimal echocardiograms to opacify the left ventricle and to improve the delineation of the left ventricular endocardial borders", with the same boxed warning on serious cardiopulmonary reactions as other perflutren products. In the European Union it has been authorised since 17 May 1998 (EMEA/H/C/000166). ATC V08DA01.

## Fields

- Kind: Imaging agent
- Status: approved
- Last checked: 2026-11-04
- Also known as: Optison; perflutren albumin microspheres
- Tags: contrast-agents-gaps-2026-11; diagnostic
- Brand: Optison
- Modality: Ultrasound contrast agent, albumin-shelled gas microbubbles for echocardiography (intravenous)
- Mechanism: Microbubbles of perflutren gas in a shell of human albumin reflect ultrasound and opacify the heart chambers.
- Approvals: US 1997: Opacification of the left ventricle in patients with suboptimal echocardiograms; EU 1998: Transpulmonary echocardiographic contrast

## Sources

- Drugs@FDA Optison (NDA 020899): https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=020899
- DailyMed label: Optison: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=46bcf276-d423-408a-a410-f11383406a94
- EMA: Optison: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/optison
- WHO ATC index V08DA: ultrasound contrast media: https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=V08DA&showdescription=no

## Connected records

- technologies: [Elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound](https://onco.cc/technologies/ultrasound-elastography-ceus/), [Ultrasound](https://onco.cc/technologies/ultrasound/), [Ultrasound contrast agents (microbubbles)](https://onco.cc/technologies/ultrasound-contrast-agents/)
- companies: [GE HealthCare](https://onco.cc/companies/ge-healthcare/)

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