Intravenous adenosine can be used in asthmatics
Date First Published:
March 1, 2000
Last Updated:
October 11, 2001
Report by:
Polly Terry, Specialist Registrar (Manchester Royal Infirmary)
Search checked by:
Gail Lumsden, Manchester Royal Infirmary
Three-Part Question:
[In an asthmatic patient with a SVT] is [treatment with adenosine] associated with [an increased risk of bronchospasm]?
Clinical Scenario:
A 32 year-old woman with asthma presents to the Emergency Department with a 20-minute history of palpitations. On examination she is cardiovascularly stable, there is no bronchospasm and the ECG shows a supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) that fails to respond to vagal manoeuvres. You would like to use IV adenosine but you are aware that asthma is a contraindication treatment. You wonder what evidence there is that IV adenosine will cause bronchospasm.
Search Strategy:
Medline 1966-09/00 using the OVID interface.
Search Details:
([exp tachycardia OR exp tachycardia, supraventricular OR narrow complex tachycardia.mp OR exp arrythmia OR exp tachycardia OR dysrhythmia.mp] AND [exp asthma OR asthma.mp OR exp respiratory sounds OR wheezing.mp OR exp bronchial spasm OR bronchospasm.mp] AND (exp adenosine OR adenosine.mp OR adenosine.ae.ct]) LIMIT to human and english.
Outcome:
16 papers were found of which 14 were irrelevant or of insufficient quality for inclusion. The remaining 2 papers are shown in the table.
Relevant Paper(s):
| Study Title | Patient Group | Study type (level of evidence) | Outcomes | Key results | Study Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Influence of Infused Adenosine on Bronchial Tone and Bronchial Reactivity in Asthma. Larsson K, Sollevi A. 1988, Sweden | 7 well subjects with a previous diagnosis of asthma Increasing doses of adenosine vs placebo |
Crossover placebo trial | HR | No significant difference | Children only Retrospective chart review |
| BP | No significant difference | ||||
| Pulmonary function | No significant difference | ||||
| Adenosine and Pediatric Supraventricular tachycardia in the Emergency Department: Multicenter Study and Review. Losek JD, Endom E, Dietrich A, et al. 1999, USA | 82 patients aged 18 yrs or less who received IV adenosine in the ED for the treatment of SVT 13 had documented evidence of asthma |
Survey | Successful cardioversion | 72% cardioversion success rate | Dose of adenosine very different to that used clinically Subjects well, and in normal sinus rhythm |
| Adverse effects | 22 adverse patient events, no bronchospasm but 2 complaints of "dyspnoea" in non-asthmatic patients |
Author Commentary:
There is very little evidence recording the effect of IV adenosine on asthmatic airways. Many studies have documented that inhaled adenosine is a potent bronchoconstrictor in asthmatic but not normal patients. In the literature there are 4 case reports of patients with asthma or COAD developing bronchospasm following treatment with IV adenosine. This level of evidence has many limitations. Similarly there are many studies looking at the efficacy of adenosine that report no "significant side effects" some specifically mention no patients reported bronchospasm.
Bottom Line:
At worst adenosine is only relatively contraindicated in the treatment of asthmatic patients with supraventricular tachycardia.
References:
- Larsson K, Sollevi A.. Influence of Infused Adenosine on Bronchial Tone and Bronchial Reactivity in Asthma.
- Losek JD, Endom E, Dietrich A, et al.. Adenosine and Pediatric Supraventricular tachycardia in the Emergency Department: Multicenter Study and Review.