Effects of exogenous adenosine in a patient with transplanted heart. Evidence for adenosine as a messenger in angina pectoris.

In this pilot study some cardiac effects of exogenous adenosine on the denervated heart were studied in a patient with transplanted heart since 3 years. He was instrumented with catheters into the left coronary artery, the coronary sinus and the right ventricle. Adenosine was given in increasing doses intracoronarily, into the aorta at the diaphragmal level and into a peripheral vein. When given into the aorta pain was provoked dose-dependently and not different from a reference group. When given intracoronarily no pain was provoked except at the highest dose when a slight discomfort of the chest was provoked. After intravenous injection no pain was provoked in the chest or in adjacent structures. Coronary sinus flow increased dose-dependently and not different from the reference group. No increased heart rate response occurred after intravenous or intracoronary injections. Extensive degrees of sinus and AV nodal blockade occurred. In conclusion, the results are in keeping with a role for adenosine as a messenger between myocardial ischaemia and angina pectoris and cardiac sympathetic pressure response. The importance of innervation for proper sinus and AV nodal function was also illustrated.