HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Iskandrian, A. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Iskandrian, A. S.

Adenosine Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

Philadelphia Heart Institute, Presbyterian Medical Center of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Correspondence: For correspondence or reprints contact: Abdulmassih S. Iskandrian, MD, Philadelphia Heart Center, Presbyterian Medical Center of Philadelphia, 51 North 39th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

ABSTRACT

Adenosine myocardial perfusion imaging is useful in diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) and risk assessment in patients who have exercise limitations. As a pharmacologic stressor, adenosine acts on two cell-surface purine receptors, A1 and A2. Activation of A2 receptors cause coronary vasodilation. Unlike other pharmacologic stressors, such as dipyridamole and dobutamine, adenosine is an endogenous biochemical. Adenosine perfusion studies have a relatively high sensitivity and specificity (80%–90%) for identifying CAD. Images from adenosine studies are comparable to, or better than, images from exercise myocardial perfusion studies. The side effects are common, but not serious; they are short-lived and rarely require the administration of aminophylline.

FOOTNOTES

This paper was presented in part at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine on June 9, 1993, as part of a Continuing Medical Education Seminar organized by the Cardiovascular Council.