Sulfur hexafluoride

FDA label, BRACCO DIAGNOSTICS INC, effective 2018-12-10. Full label on DailyMed

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Quoted from the FDA label. Product labels differ by manufacturer and change over time; confirm against the label for the product you are using.

Boxed warning

WARNING: SERIOUS CARDIOPULMONARY REACTIONS Serious cardiopulmonary reactions, including fatalities, have occurred uncommonly during or following the injection of ultrasound contrast agents, including sulfur hexafluoride lipid microspheres [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . Most serious reactions occur within 30 minutes of administration [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . Assess all patients for the presence of any condition that precludes administration [see Contraindications ( 4 )] . Always have resuscitation equipment and trained personnel readily available [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] .

WARNING: SERIOUS CARDIOPULMONARY REACTIONS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Serious cardiopulmonary reactions, including fatalities, have occurred uncommonly during or following the injection of ultrasound contrast agents, including sulfur hexafluoride lipid microspheres ( 5.1 ). Most serious reactions occur within 30 minutes of administration ( 5.1 ). Assess all patients for the presence of any condition that precludes administration ( 4 ). Always have resuscitation equipment and trained personnel readily available ( 5.1 ).

Dosing in kidney impairment

Ultrasonography of the Urinary Tract After baseline non-contrast ultrasound examination of the kidney and bladder, switch the scanner to low mechanical index (≤0.4) contrast specific imaging. Perform continuous alternate ultrasound imaging of the bladder, ureters, and kidneys during filling and voiding of the bladder.

Preparation and administration

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Important Administration Instructions Do not administer by intra-arterial injection [see Warnings and Precautions] .

Recommended Dosage Echocardiography The recommended dose of Lumason after reconstitution is 2 mL administered as an intravenous bolus injection during echocardiography. During a single examination, a second injection of 2 mL may be administered to prolong contrast enhancement. Follow each Lumason injection with an intravenous flush using 5 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection.

Ultrasonography of the Liver Adults The recommended dose of Lumason after reconstitution in adult patients is 2.4 mL administered as an intravenous injection during ultrasonography of the liver. During a single examination, a second injection of 2.4 mL may be administered, if needed. Follow Lumason injection with an intravenous flush using 5 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection.

Pediatric Patients The recommended dose of Lumason after reconstitution in pediatric patients is 0.03 mL per kg administered as an intravenous injection during ultrasonography of the liver. During a single examination, a second injection of 0.03 mL per kg may be administered, if needed. Do not exceed 2.4 mL per injection.

Follow Lumason injection with an intravenous flush of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection. Ultrasonography of the Urinary Tract Pediatric Patients The recommended dose of Lumason after reconstitution is 1 mL. The bladder may be refilled with normal saline for a second cycle of voiding and imaging, without the need of a second Lumason administration.

Reconstitution Instructions Contents of Lumason Kit Inspect the Lumason kit and its components for signs of damage. Do not use the kit if the protective caps on the Lumason vial and prefilled syringe with 5 mL Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection are not intact or if the kit shows other signs of damage. Under aseptic conditions, reconstitute Lumason by injecting the prefilled syringe with 5 mL Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection into the Lumason vial using the following illustrated steps: 1.

Connect the plunger rod to the prefilled syringe barrel by screwing it clockwise into the syringe (see Figure 1). 2. Open the Mini-Spike blister and remove the syringe tip cap (see Figure 2). 3. Open the Mini-Spike green cap and connect the syringe to the Mini-Spike by screwing it in clockwise (see Figure 3). 4. Remove the flip cap plastic protective cap from the vial, remove the Mini-Spike spike protection and position the spike in the center of the rubber stopper of the vial.

Press firmly inward until the spike is fully inserted in the stopper (see Figure 4). 5. Empty the content of the syringe into the vial by pushing on the plunger rod (see Figure 5). 6. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds, mixing all the contents in the vial (see Figure 6). A homogeneous white milky liquid indicates formation of sulfur hexafluoride lipid microspheres. 7.

For preparation of doses greater than or equal to 1 mL, invert the system and slowly withdraw the intended volume of suspension into the syringe (see Figure 7). For preparation of doses less than 1 mL, withdraw 2 mL of the reconstituted suspension into the 5 mL syringe and measure the volume of Lumason to inject by using the 0.2 mL graduations between the 1 mL and 2 mL marks. 8.

Unscrew the syringe from the Mini-Spike (see Figure 8). Peel and remove the diluent label to display the reconstituted product label. For intravenous administration, immediately connect the syringe to a dose administration line (20 G) and administer as directed under the Administration Instructions below. For intravesical administration, immediately connect the syringe to a sterile urinary catheter (6 french to 8 french) and administer as directed under the Administration Instructions below.

Following reconstitution, Lumason suspension contains 1.5 to 5.6 x10 8 microspheres/mL with 45 mcg/mL of sulfur hexafluoride. Use immediately after reconstitution. If the suspension is not used immediately after reconstitution, resuspend the microspheres for a few seconds by hand agitation before the suspension is drawn into the syringe.

Reconstituted suspension within a vial may be used for up to 3 hours from the time of its reconstitution. Maintain the vial containing the reconstituted suspension at room temperature. contents-of-kit figure1 figure2 figure3 figure4 figure5 figure6 figure7 figure8

Administration Instructions Inspect visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. The reconstituted suspension is milky-white, and does not contain visible particulate matter. Do not use the single-patient use vial for more than one patient. Intravenous Administration Administer Lumason as an intravenous bolus injection.

Intravesical Administration in Pediatric Patients Insert a sterile 6 french to 8 french urinary catheter into the bladder under sterile conditions; Empty the bladder of urine, and then fill the bladder with saline (sterile 0.9% sodium chloride solution) to approximately one third or half of its predicted total volume. The total bladder volume in children is calculated as [(age in years + 2) x 30] mL; Administer Lumason as an intravesical bolus injection through the urinary catheter; Continue filling the bladder with saline until the patient has the urge to micturate or at the first sign of back pressure to the infusion.

Immediately following the first voiding, the bladder may be refilled with normal saline for a second cycle of voiding and imaging, without the need of a second Lumason administration

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  • Sulfur hexafluoride

Contraindications

Lumason is contraindicated in patients with: history of hypersensitivity reactions to sulfur hexafluoride lipid microsphere components or to any of the inactive ingredients in Lumason History of hypersensitivity reactions to sulfur hexafluoride lipid microsphere components or to any of the inactive ingredients in Lumason ( 4 )

Safety data

Reported adverse events (FAERS)

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Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System via openFDA

Liver injury (LiverTox)

LiverTox has no chapter for sulfur hexafluoride. Check the label's hepatic warnings.

Pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no data with Lumason use in pregnant women to inform any drug-associated risks. No adverse developmental outcomes were observed in animal reproduction studies with administration of sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microspheres in pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis at doses up to at least 10 and 20 times, respectively, the maximum human dose of 4.8 mL based on body surface area (see Data ). In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively.

Data Animal Data Lumason was administered intravenously to rats at doses of 0.2, 1, and 5 mL/kg (approximately 0.4, 2, and 10 times the recommended maximum human dose of 4.8 mL, respectively, based on body surface area); Lumason doses were administered daily for about 30 consecutive days, from two weeks before pairing until the end of organogenesis. Lumason was administered intravenously to rabbits at doses of 0.2, 1, and 5 mL/kg (approximately 0.8, 4, and 20 times the recommended maximum human dose, respectively, based on body surface area); Lumason doses were administered daily from gestation day 6 to day 19 inclusive. No significant findings on the fetus were observed.

Breastfeeding (LactMed)

No published experience exists with the use of sulfur hexafluoride during breastfeeding. The half-life of the agent is about 10 minutes and absorption of the drug by the infant is unlikely. If sulfur hexafluoride is required by the mother, it is not a reason to discontinue breastfeeding. Because of the lack of information, the American College of Radiology states that temporary (~24 hours) pumping and discarding of milk may be considered.

Source: LactMed: Sulfur Hexafluoride (NICHD, public domain)Revised Dec 15, 2025

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