Thread: Adenosine
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Old 02-01-2011, 10:21 PM
kwinkler kwinkler is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2010
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kwinkler kwinkler is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 26
10 yr Member
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Chemical stress tests can be done with adenosine, Regadenoson, dipyradimole, or dobutamine. Of course, its always better if you can walk. Adenosine will be an infusion, but if you have symptoms, it has about a 15 seconds half life. So, when the drip stops, the symptoms don't last much longer. Regadenoson and dipyradimole work within the body to directly increase your own adenosine. If you have symptoms they can be reversed with aminophylline. These 3 dilate the coronaries to assess differential perfusion. Dobutamine acts directly on the heart making it contract more, similar to exercise.

As for the radiopharmaceutical, most places will generically have the order listed as thallium. These are 2 phase studies, with one done at rest and the other after stress. Some places will use thallium at rest and technetium (sestamibi or tetrofosmin) at stress, although many are transitioning to technetium agents for both phases. This use to entail a 2 day study, but can easily be done using a low dose for the first part and a higher dose for the second.
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