My husband has COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). He is 66
years old. 6 feet tall – weighs 220#. He gained 25# after he stopped
smoking. He is planning on going into a Pulmonary Rehab program but we
need to have an OK from his cardiologist.
3 years ago my husband had angioplasty after a mild heart attack.
Because of the COPD, the cardiologist indicated that the conventional
stress test would probably not be an option because of his poor
pulmonary function. He indicated that a medication induced stress test
might be an option. He said that one of several drugs (I am not sure
of the spelling but it sounded like PERSANTIUM, the other sounded like
IDENDICARD) would be injected and then the nuclear medicine (thallium
or other choice) would be used.
Does anyone have any information on the chemically induced stress test?
What are the chemicals? Is there any danger? Will this bring on a
heart attack?
We think that the pulmonary rehab program would be very beneficial for
him but do not want to put him in any kind of additional jeopardy.
Any information would be appreciated.
Links
On 14 Nov 1996 23:45:17 GMT, ol…@ix.netcom.com(Pat O’Brien) wrote:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
>My husband has COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). He is 66
>years old. 6 feet tall – weighs 220#. He gained 25# after he stopped
>smoking. He is planning on going into a Pulmonary Rehab program but we
>need to have an OK from his cardiologist.
>3 years ago my husband had angioplasty after a mild heart attack.
>Because of the COPD, the cardiologist indicated that the conventional
>stress test would probably not be an option because of his poor
>pulmonary function. He indicated that a medication induced stress test
>might be an option. He said that one of several drugs (I am not sure
>of the spelling but it sounded like PERSANTIUM, the other sounded like
>IDENDICARD) would be injected and then the nuclear medicine (thallium
>or other choice) would be used.
>Does anyone have any information on the chemically induced stress test?
>What are the chemicals? Is there any danger? Will this bring on a
>heart attack?
>We think that the pulmonary rehab program would be very beneficial for
>him but do not want to put him in any kind of additional jeopardy.
>Any information would be appreciated.
Good questions… The Cardiolyte-Persantine scan is commonly used in
patients like your husband, who cannot tolerate a regular excercise
treadmill and who’s COPD probably limits the technical feasibility of
doing a stress-Echo. The Persantine is a drug, which used to be used
for treating angina and preventing strokes (it didn’t work that well!)
which allows the scan to distinguish blocked arteries from reasonably
open ones. The test is safe unless the patient has "critical aortic
stenosis" or "unstable angina." He may experience some flushing,
headache, or mild wheezing with the persantine, but these side-effects
are rapidly reversed by aminophylline which can be given at the
conclusion of the test. It will be important for him to stop
Theophylline (aminophylline)-containing medications before taking the
test. Sounds like a wise precaution to do the scan… H2