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Cardiac atherosclerosis, often involving valve calcification, rarely occurs alone. Echocardiography and Doppler are superior to phonocardiography for detecting aortic insufficiency and mitral disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Cardiac atherosclerosis, particularly valvular calcification, is a significant clinical concern.
- Understanding the diagnostic capabilities of various imaging modalities is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the diagnostic accuracy of echocardiography, Doppler echocardiography, and phonocardiography in patients with cardiac atherosclerotic lesions.
- To evaluate the prevalence and patterns of valvular calcification in cardiac atherosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- The study involved 31 patients with cardiac atherosclerotic lesions and 20 controls.
- Clinical, echocardiographic, Doppler echocardiographic, electro-, and phonocardiographic assessments were conducted.
Main Results:
- Valvular calcification was rarely isolated, frequently presenting as combined or concurrent defects.
- Aortic atherosclerotic stenosis detection rates were similar for echocardiography and phonocardiography.
- Echocardiography and Doppler echocardiography demonstrated superior detection rates (7- and 9-fold) for aortic valvular insufficiency and mitral diseases compared to phonocardiography.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac atherosclerotic defects, primarily calcification, are often multifocal.
- Echocardiography and Doppler echocardiography are more effective than phonocardiography for diagnosing specific valvular conditions like aortic insufficiency and mitral diseases.
Abstract:
Clinical, echocardiographic, Doppler echocardiographic, electro- and phonocardiographic studies were performed in 31 patients with cardiac atherosclerotic lesions (aortic in 17 patients, aortomitral in 10, mitral in 4) and in 20 patients matched for age, sex, and underlying abnormality, but without cardiac disease. Atherosclerotic defects caused by calcification of the valvular apparatus were shown to be rarely (5.9% of patients) isolated, they were more frequently combined or concurrent. Atherosclerotic defects caused no significant myocardial structural and functional changes in addition to the underlying pathology. Aortic atherosclerotic stenosis is diagnosed at equal rates by using echo and phonocardiography, whereas aortic valvular insufficiency and mitral diseases are better (7- and 9-fold) detected with echocardiography and Doppler echocardiography, whereas aortic valvular insufficiency and mitral diseases are better (7- and 9-fold) detected with echocardiography and Doppler echocardiography than with phonocardiography.