Aortic & peripheral vascular diseaseRandomised controlled trial
Ultrasound Cavitation of Microbubbles Augments Limb Perfusion and Promotes Ulcer Healing in Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia
- Randomised controlled trial
Authors' conclusion
In patients with CLTI and nonhealing ulcers, periodic therapy with cavitation of microbubbles using US parameters approved for diagnostic imaging promotes healing of ischemic ulcers, likely through improvement in tissue perfusion and microvascular vascularity.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) and chronic nonhealing ulcers
- Participants
- 24 patients
- Comparison
- Ultrasound cavitation of microbubbles vs standard care
- Primary endpoint
- Change in ulcer area and ulcer microvascular perfusion
- Follow-up
- Day 18
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Change in ulcer area
Cavitation
−36.6%
median · IQR −15.4%–-65.0%
Standard care
+3.4%
median · IQR −14.7% to +20.0%
P = 0.039
- Ulcer margin perfusion increase with cavitation
- 2.5-fold
Further findings
Flow parameters with cavitation
- Functional microvascular density on super-resolution ultrasound (US) microangiography
- 1.6-fold increase
- Femoral artery flow
- 1.8-fold increase
- Flow parameters did not increase in control patients
- P < 0.05 for all parameters
Original publication
Ultrasound Cavitation of Microbubbles Augments Limb Perfusion and Promotes Ulcer Healing in Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. Published 4 August 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2026.06.009
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it