Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with intravenous adenosine has proved efficacy for the diagonosis and risk stratification of coronary artery disease. To determine the safety of adenosine infusion in conjunction with radionuclide imaging, we evaluated prospectively 1,093 patients who underwent myocardial perfusion study.

Informations on safety and adverse events during and immediately after adenosine infusion were collected and statistical analysis was performed.

The adverse events were reported in 730 patients (66.8%), but no death or myocardial infarction. There asverse events were well tolerated and no prolonged effect was noted. Chest pain occured in 223 patients(20.4%) and facial flushing and dyspnea were reported by 246 patients(22.5%) and 253 patients(23.1%), respectively. ECG changes, such as mild arrhythmia, ST depression and AV block were checked in 230 patients(21.0%). The infusion was prematurely terminated in 32 patients(2.9%), due to serve chest pain, serve brochospasm, or third degree AV block. Higher frequency of chest pain was reported in women compare to men(p<0.05), and ST segment depression was more frequent in patients with abnormal myocardial perfusion scitigraphic findings(p<0.05).

These results demonstrate that intravenous infusion of adenosine is relatively safe, and myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with intravenous ademosine is feasible technique in the evaluation of the coronary artery disease patients unable to exercise.