Response of myocardial oxygenation to breathing manoeuvres and adenosine infusion

AimsTesting for inducible myocardial ischaemia is one of the most important diagnostic procedures and has a strong impact on clinical decision-making. Current standard protocols are typically limited by the required infusion of vasodilatory substances. Recent data indicate that changes of myocardial oxygenation induced by hyperventilation and breath-holds can be monitored by oxygenation-sensitive (OS) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and may be useful for assessing coronary vascular function. As tests using breathing manoeuvres may be safer, easier, and more comfortable than vasodilator stress agent infusion, we compared its impact on myocardial oxygenation with that of a standard adenosine infusion protocol.