The use of echocardiography microbubble contrast agents in the second quarter declined to just 22% of the usage in the U.S. two years ago, according to market research firm Arlington Medical Resources (AMR).
The effects of the 2007 black box warnings by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are still being felt, according to the Malvern, PA-based firm. AMR also said that the total number of patients undergoing echocardiography dropped by 17,095 in June, while the total number of patients undergoing contrast-enhanced echocardiography in the U.S. market also dipped by 2,137.
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