Cardiovascular effects and tolerance of adenosine versus regadenoson during cardiac MRI perfusion testing

Background Patients referred to cardiac MRI (CMR) for suspicion of obstructive coronary artery disease typically undergo vasodilator stress testing using either adenosine or regadenoson. Both of these agents are effective and have been evaluated for stress testing in both the CMR and nuclear medicine setting but the cardiovascular physiologic effects of each of these agents have not been well studied. Despite different pharmacokinetics, stress CMR protocols do not differ between agents, and it is truly unknown if the agents alter ventricular volumes, function and flow differently. In this study, we evaluated the physiologic cardiovascular effects of each of these agents over time in healthy volunteers.