Comparative study of the safety of regadenoson between patients with mild/moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma

Purpose

To compare the safety of regadenoson, a selective agonist of A_2A adenosine receptors, combined with low-level exercise, between subjects with mild/moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma referred for myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI).

Methods

We studied 116 patients, of whom 67 had COPD and 49 asthma (62 % men, mean age 68.3?±?11.3 years, range 31 – 87 years). Patient demographics, past medical history, medications, clinical symptoms during stress and changes in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were evaluated.

Results

Both groups were comparable with regard to hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes and medications with the exception of a higher rate of use of anticholinergics in patients with COPD and of antileukotrienes in asthmatics (58.2 % vs. 28.6 % and 1.5 % vs. 14.3 %, respectively; all p?p?p?=?0.056).

Conclusion

This study showed a good safety profile in our series of COPD and asthma patients undergoing MPI. Regadenoson was well tolerated by all patients, with dyspnoea, headache and feeling hot showing differences between groups.