Bronchospasm Induced by Intravenous Adenosine

Abstract

1 Adenosine is well known to cause bronchoconstriction when inhaled, but to date there has been only one report following the intravenous route. 2 Adenosine caused bronchoconstriction in two patients (the only two with asthma) out of 26 treated with the drug. In one subject the duration of response was much longer than previously reported following inhalation. 3 We suggest that adenosine may aggravate bronchospasm in some asthmatics and alternative treatments for supraventricular tachycardia should be considered in this group.