Pulmonary gas trapping differences among animal species in response to intravenous infusion of perfluorocarbon emulsions

In animals, increased lung volume and a concomitant failure of lungs to collapse normally upon autopsy can occur following intravenous injection of higher vapor pressure perfluorocarbons (PFCs) administered as emulsions. Responses vary considerably depending on the PFC, dose and animal model. The study objective was to examine animal species differences with respect to this apparent pulmonary gas trapping (PGT) phenomenon which has not been observed in human clinical trials. A dose-related increase in postmortem lung volume following treatment with either a concentrated perflubron emulsion or Fluosol was observed. It was most pronounced in pigs, rabbits and monkeys, and essentially nonexistent in mice and dogs. No clear effects on arterial blood gases were seen in most species, but PaO2 levels were reduced transiently in monkeys given the highest PFC doses. Reversibility of pulmonary effects occurred more rapidly with perflubron emulsions than with Fluosol. Vacuolated mononuclear cells, reflecting the presence of PFC particles in the lung, and alveolar distention varied between species, but no lesions or edema were observed. Species differences in collateral ventilation, airway morphology and pulmonary intravascular macrophages may influence their sensitivity and contribute to the interspecies differences in response to intravenously administered PFC emulsions.

Development of highly fluid, concentrated and stable fluorocarbon emulsions for diagnosis and therapy

A challenging aim in developing injectable fluorocarbon emulsions is to combine good flow characteristics (especially at low shear rates) with the high fluorocarbon concentration required for high oxygen delivery or effective contrast in imaging, long shelf life, and biological acceptability. A good balance of these sometimes conflicting objectives has been achieved with 90% w/v concentrated emulsions of various fluorocarbons, including the radiopaque oxygen carrier perfluorooctylbromide (PFOB, perflubron). The sterile emulsions have viscosities of about 20 cPs at a shear rate of 1 sec-1; the viscosity decreases rapidly with fluorocarbon concentration, and at 60% w/v the viscosity is less than that of human blood. The emulsions are suitable for injection as prepared, and are stable unfrozen for over a year.