The prevalence of angina pectoris and abnormal coronary arteriograms in severe aortic valvular disease.

In order to relate the frequency of angina pectoris to associated coronary artery disease, 66 consecutive patients with severe aortic valvular disease were studied by cardiac catheterization, including coronary angiography. Angina pectoris was found in 63 per cent of patients with predominant aortic stenosis, 62 per cent with aortic regurgitation, and 67 per cent with mixed disease. Associated coronary artery disease (larger than or equal to 75 per cent luminal stenosis) ranged from 14 to 28 per cent and averaged 20 per cent for the entire group of 66 patients. Only one patient without angina had significant coronary artery stenosis. Our studies indicate that angina pectoris is equally common in all forms of severe aortic valve disease and is usually not associated with significant coronary artery disease.