Intravenous adenosine but not its first metabolite inosine provokes chest pain in healthy volunteers.

Intravenous (i.v.) bolus administration of adenosine causes increased ventilation and an angina pectoris-like chest pain. Whether adenosine per se or one of its metabolites such as inosine mediates these effects is not clear. Bolus doses of adenosine, inosine, or saline were administered i.v. blindly to six volunteers. Spirometry, ECG recordings, and pain ratings were taken. Adenosine induced both an increase in tidal volume and respiration rate, a dose-dependent chest pain and, at higher doses, various degrees of atrioventricular (AV) block. None of these effects were noted after equimolar injections of inosine or saline. The findings indicate that the angina pectoris-like pain and increased ventilation is induced by adenosine per se and is not produced by adenosine metabolites.