Coronary Atherosclerosis and Angina Pectoris in Aortic Valvular Heart Disease

Seventy-three patients with aortic valvular disease (AVD) who had all undergone cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography were studied in regard to the interrelationship between angina pectoris (AP) and coronary artery disease (CAD). The incidence of AP was 62 % in aortic stenosis (AS), 44 % in aortic regurgitation (AR), 51 % in combined AS+AR while that of CAD was 31 %, 11 % and 13 %, respectively. No significant existed between the groups. While AP was noted only in 44 % of patients without CAD, it existed in 11 of 12 patients with CAD (p<0.005). Patients with CAD were significantly (a decade) older than the others. AP was significantly higher in AVD patients with left ventircular hypertrophy (LVH) or aortic valve calcification (AVC) than those not exhibiting these complications. This observation was valid also in patients with AS or combined AS+AR with AVC as compared to those without AVC and in AR with LVH compared to those without LVH. Our findings comfirmed that in addition to the hemodynamic effects of the valvular disease, CAD is an importnt etiologic factor in AP in these patients.