The Role of Valvular and Thoracic Aortic Calcifications in Distinction Between Ischemic and Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy

• Published in: Angiology 2004-11, Vol.55 (6), p.661-667
• Main Authors: Atak, Ramazan, Ileri, Mehmet, Yetkin, Ozkan, Yetkin, Ertan, Turhan, Hasan, Senen, Kubilay, Sahin, Onur, Ozbakır, Cemal, Demikan, Deniz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0003-3197; 1940-1574
• DOI: 10.1177/00033197040550i607

Determination of underlying etiology in patients with dilated and globally hypokinetic left ventricles may sometimes be difficult even after detailed history and complete clinical evaluation. Cardiac valvular and thoracic aortic calcifications have previously been reported to be used as a window to diffuse atherosclerosis of the vascular system. The authors prospectively examined the predictive value of mitral annular calcification (MAC), aortic valve calcification (AVC), and thoracic aortic calcification (TAC) in diagnosis of coronary artery disease as the underlying cause of diffuse left ventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction. The study included 98 consecutive patients (male/female = 76/22, mean age = 58.9 ±10.7 years, range: 33 to 75 years) over the age of 30 years admitted to their clinics between October 1999 and December 2001 with signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure associated with documented cardiomegaly. Transthoracic echocardiography and coronary angiography were performed in all patients for the evaluation of valvular calcifications and coronary status. Although there was no significant difference between the groups with and without coronary artery stenosis (CAS), with regard to presence of MAC, patients with CAS tended to have MAC more frequently (12/61, 20% vs 4/37, 11%, p>0.05). AVC and TAC were found to be significantly more frequent in patients with CAS compared to those without CAS (AVC, 35/61, 57% vs 4/37, 11%, p