At half the sample size, the results were negative with no benefit demonstrated with adenosine.

Myocardial damage occurs in up to 40% of cases when sensitive biomarkers are measured after coronary artery stenting. Such events have been associated with poor outcomes both at 30 days and long term. The cause of such damage is multi-factorial and includes distal propagation of atheromatous and thrombotic debris and the subsequent infiltration of the microcirculation with inflammatory cells. Individually or together these events can occlude the micro-circulation and lead impaired blood flow to heart muscle.

The vasodilator adenosine is commonly used in cases of impaired flow in an endeavor to improve flow rate and limit myocardial damage. Unfortunately the efficacy of this therapy is limited. More recently, there have been clinical studies looking at the administration of adenosine before any potential damage by ballooning or stenting, in an effort to avoid poor distal flow post procedure and thus limit any myocardial damage. Although small numbers of subjects have been included in these trials, there have been encouraging preliminary data.

The aim of this study is to assess whether the use of intra-coronary adenosine given directly into the target coronary artery prior to stenting can reduce the incidence of myonecrosis (heart muscle damage)over placebo. We also aim to assess whether this translates to better outcomes at 30 day follow up.

Prior clinical studies looking at the administration of adenosine before coronary artery stenting have looked at small numbers of subjects and did not mandate previous statin therapy or high dose loading of clopidogrel before stenting, both of which can also help lower the rate of peri-procedural myonecrosis.

Our aim is to assess the above mentioned therapy in patients on optimal treatment with statins, dual antiplatelet agents and standard of care anti-coagulants.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary balloon angioplasty and stenting
• Ages 18 years and older
• TIMI III flow on the initial angiography
• Native coronary artery lesions

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients unable to give consent
• Adenosine allergy
• Severe asthma with bronchial reactivity
• Cardiogenic or circulatory shock
• Acute or chronic total coronary artery occlusions
• Patients requiring Rotablator therapy
• In stent restenosis
• Second or third degree AV block without a permanent pacemaker
• ST-Elevation MI
• Elevated baseline CK/ CK-MB or troponin levels (Pre-existing Non-STemi)
• Current pregnancy
• Patients not already on statin therapy or intolerant of statins