Feasibility and Improved Diagnostic Yield of Intracoronary Adenosine to Assess Microvascular Dysfunction With Bolus

Hernan Mejia-Renteria1, Asad Shabbir1, Ivan J Nuñez-Gil1

  • 1Cardiology Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, IDISSC Universidad Complutense de Madrid Spain.

Insights

High-dose intracoronary adenosine (HDIC) provides superior coronary microcirculatory assessment compared to intravenous adenosine. HDIC offers enhanced hyperemia, shorter procedure times, and better patient tolerance for myocardial ischemia diagnosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Interventional Cardiology
  • Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

  • Established methods for coronary microcirculatory assessment include bolus thermodilution and intravenous adenosine.
  • Current adoption is limited by procedural time and patient discomfort associated with intravenous adenosine.
  • Investigating intracoronary versus intravenous adenosine is crucial for optimizing diagnostic procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare intracoronary and intravenous adenosine for coronary microcirculatory assessment using bolus thermodilution.
  • To evaluate differences in microcirculatory indices, procedural time, and patient side effects.
  • To determine the optimal adenosine administration route for patients with myocardial ischemia and nonobstructive coronary arteries.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, observational study involving 102 patients with suspected myocardial ischemia and nonobstructive coronary arteries.
  • Measurements included mean transit time, coronary flow reserve, and index of microcirculatory resistance.
  • Comparison of low-dose intracoronary adenosine, high-dose intracoronary adenosine (HDIC), and intravenous adenosine administration.

Main Results:

  • HDIC induced greater hyperemia and a shorter hyperemic mean transit time compared to low-dose intracoronary and intravenous adenosine (P<0.0001).
  • Coronary flow reserve was higher and index of microcirculatory resistance was lower with HDIC (P<0.05).
  • Intracoronary adenosine resulted in shorter procedure times (P<0.0001) and was better tolerated, with less chest pain (P<0.01).

Conclusions:

  • High-dose intracoronary adenosine enhances hyperemia induction for coronary microcirculatory assessment in relevant patient populations.
  • Intracoronary adenosine administration is associated with reduced procedural times compared to intravenous administration.
  • Intracoronary adenosine offers improved patient tolerability, making it a preferred method for microcirculatory assessment.
Abstract