Regadenoson (Lexiscan) stress testing in patients with COPD and asthma: is it safe?

Based on accumulating experience it would appear that it is. From a recent review:

While regadenoson has become the vasodilator stress agent of choice and has streamlined and simplified stress protocols in many nuclear stress laboratories, the adverse effect of dyspnea is still experienced by many patients, and even more so by those with COPD and asthma. While patients and practitioners should anticipate this symptom, several studies have shown that the subjective experience of dyspnea is not correlated with and is not caused by bronchoconstriction. Available data from observational studies as well as controlled clinical trials, as summarized in Table 1, indicate that the use of regadenoson in patients with mild to moderate asthma and mild to moderate COPD is safe. The current data in patients with severe COPD, while limited, are reassuring and indicate that regadenoson is probably safe, particularly in those with stable lung disease. Clinical data are limited in COPD patients who require 24-hour/day home oxygen administration, have previously been intubated for respiratory failure, or have had recent exacerbations or required uptitration of their medication regimen within a 1-month period; regadenoson should therefore be used with caution in this patient population. Similarly, regadenoson has not been studied in patients with severe bronchial asthma (FEV1 less than 60%); thus, it should be avoided in these patients at this time.