# Perflutren lipid microspheres (ultrasound contrast)

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

## TL;DR

Gas bubbles injected into a vein during a heart ultrasound to show the heart's pumping chamber more clearly when the ordinary picture is not good enough.

## Summary

Lantheus' Definity (NDA 021064, first approved 31 July 2001) is indicated, after activation, "for use in adult and pediatric patients with suboptimal echocardiograms to opacify the left ventricular chamber and to improve the delineation of the left ventricular endocardial border". Its boxed warning reads "Serious cardiopulmonary reactions, including fatalities, have occurred uncommonly during or following perflutren-containing microsphere administration". In the European Union it is Luminity (EMEA/H/C/000654, authorised 20 September 2006). ATC V08DA04.

## Fields

- Kind: Imaging agent
- Status: approved
- Last checked: 2026-11-04
- Also known as: perflutren; Definity; Definity RT; Luminity
- Tags: contrast-agents-gaps-2026-11; diagnostic
- Brand: Definity
- Modality: Ultrasound contrast agent, gas microbubbles for echocardiography (intravenous)
- Mechanism: Lipid-shelled microbubbles of perflutren gas fill the heart chambers and reflect ultrasound, outlining the wall of the left ventricle.
- Approvals: US 2001: Opacification of the left ventricle in patients with suboptimal echocardiograms; EU 2006: Ultrasound contrast in suboptimal echocardiography

## Sources

- Drugs@FDA Definity (NDA 021064): https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=021064
- DailyMed label: Definity RT: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=7b9de6ab-a3ac-40c9-8103-139dc7a464a2
- EMA: Luminity: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/luminity
- 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: [Lantheus](https://onco.cc/companies/lantheus/)

---
JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/perflutren-lipid-microspheres.json