The emerging role of the selective A_2A agonist in pharmacologic stress testing

Excerpt

Since its inception almost 50 years ago, the technique of myocardial perfusion imaging has evolved substantially. From pyrophosphate to Tl-201 to technetium-based radiotracers, from static planar imaging to gated SPECT with attenuation correction, the field of nuclear cardiology has matured with these significant technical advances. Similarly, the use of pharmacologic stressors as an alternative to exercise has also been in a state of evolution, from dipyridamole and dobutamine to adenosine, to a novel agent recently approved and available for use. This review will highlight recent developments in pharmacologic stress myocardial perfusion imaging focusing on the clinical application of the selective adenosine A_2A receptor agonists. …