Myocardial Blood Flow by PET and N-13 Ammonia During Regadenoson vs Adenosine Stress
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2012-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Blockage of the heart arteries (coronary artery disease) can lead to angina (chest pain),
heart attacks, heart failure, and/or death. Positron emission tomography (PET) stress
myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is a powerful tool to help identify blockages in the
coronary arteries. During the PET MPI test, a drug is given to mimic the effects of exercise
on the heart. The study was done to measure blood flow to the heart using two similar drugs
approved to mimic the effects of exercise on the heart in people during a heart stress test.
The first drug, called adenosine, has been approved for this use for several decades. The
second drug, called regadenoson, was approved in 2008. The investigators were looking at
whether the increase in blood flow to the heart with the newer drug (regadenoson) was similar
to the increase in blood flow with the older drug (adenosine). This information is important
for the use of these drugs in patients and for interpreting the blood flow values.