Pharmacological options for inducing maximal hyperaemia during studies of coronary physiology.

The coronary pressure wire is used for physiological assessment of the coronary vasculature increasingly frequently in clinical practice. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) can now be used to assess lesion severity in a variety of anatomical situations. Increasingly, the coronary pressure wire is being used to interrogate the coronary microvasculature. Coronary flow reserve (CFR) and Index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) require hyperaemia to accurately assess thermodilution-derived mean transit times, and pressure derived collateral flow index (CFIp) is calculated from coronary wedge pressure and aortic pressure at hyperaemia. In addition, coronary flow velocity as assessed by a coronary Doppler flow wire needs appropriate induction of hyperaemia. However, the majority of this article will however focus on hyperaemia induction for pressure wire studies particularly FFR. Significant clinical decisions are made as a result of FFR readings, therefore it is imperative that they are carried out correctly. Maximal coronary hyperaemia is essential in producing accurate, reproducible measurements. This article focuses on the pharmacological agents that can be used for this purpose, discusses which agents can be used in specific situations, and briefly addresses the future of pharmacological stress in the catheter laboratory. Copyright 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.