Aortic valve stenosis may be accompanied by angina despite coronary arteries free of significant stenosis due to microvascular abnormalities.
Aims: The aim of the current study was to test whether densitometry-derived myocardial perfusion on coronary angiogram is reduced in patients with aortic valve stenosis.
Methods: The study comprised 20 patients with aortic valve stenosis (mean transvalvular gradient: 47.4±15.2 mm Hg) and 30 control subjects without significant epicardial coronary artery stenosis. A quantitative parameter of myocardial perfusion was calculated by the ratio of maximal density (Gmax) and time to reach maximum density (Tmax) on time-density curves in regions of interest of each coronary artery on coronary angiograms.
Results: Mean three-vessel Gmax/Tmax proved to be significantly lower in patients with aortic valve stenosis compared to control subjects (2.55±1.02 1/sec vs. 3.39±1.09 1/sec, p<0.01).
Conclusions: Reduced Gmax/Tmax values indicative of myocardial perfusion abnormalities as measured by densitometry on coronary angiograms could be demonstrated in patients with aortic valve stenosis compared to controls.