[Aortic valve disease and coronary atherosclerosis. Clinical and coronarographic study (author's transl)].

: 77 patients with aortic valve disease have undergone heart catheterization in prevision of valve replacement: in this group the incidence of angina pectoris and the incidence of coronary artery disease associated with the valvular disease have been evaluated. The most important data resulting from out study are: 1) High frequency of angina pectoris both aortic stenosis and in aortic regurgitation: respectively about 60% and 50%. 2) The frequency of coronary atherosclerosis associated with aortic valve disease is much higher in aortic stenosis than in aortic regurgitation: respectively 35% versus 15%. 3) Coronary atherosclerosis associated with aortic stenosis frequently occurs (about 30%) also in young-aged patients (under 40 years). On the contrary in case of aortic regurgitation it occurs much more frequently in elderly patients. 4) The absence of angina both in aortic stenosis and in aortic regurgitation virtually excludes the presence of associated coronary atherosclerosis. 5) The presence of angina in aortic stenosis indicated either severe valvular stenosis or associated coronary artery disease (in this case the valvular stenosis is mild or moderate). The presence of angina in aortic regurgitation indicates either severe impairment of left ventricular performance or associated coronary atherosclerosis.