Adenosine infusion for the reversal of pulmonary vasoconstriction in biventricular failure. A good test but a poor therapy.

Abstract

Adenosine is a potent selective pulmonary vasodilator in patients with biventricular heart failure and is preferable to sodium nitroprusside as a test for the reversibility of pulmonary vasoconstriction. However, its deleterious effects on left atrial pressure make it unsuitable as a therapeutic agent in patients awaiting heart transplantation.