Association Between Mitral and Aortic Valve Calcification and Preferential Left or Right Coronary Artery Disease

Background and aim of the study: Mitral annular calcification (MAC) and aortic valve calcification (AVC) are predictive of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, no data exist concerning the association between preferential CAD side localization to the left or right coronary arteries and MAC or AVC. Methods: A cohort analysis was performed of 1,000 consecutive coronary angiographies recorded in patients with CAD. The angiographies were divided according to the distribution of CAD to the isolated right coronary tree disease, left coronary tree disease, or both. The echocardiograms were reviewed for MAC, AVC or combined valvular calcification (CVC). Results: Significant CAD (lumenal stenosis >70%) was observed in 688 patients, among whom 167 had isolated (right or left) CAD and 521 double-sided coronary tree disease. Valvular calcification (VC) was observed in 70 (42%) of the isolated CAD patients; of these, 41 had isolated left CAD and 29 isolated right CAD. Among the isolated left CAD patients with VC, 13 (32%) had AVC, 22 (53%) had CVC, and only six (15%) had MAC (p <0.01). Among the isolated right CAD patients with VC, 18 (62%) had MAC, nine (31%) had CVC, and only two (7%) had AVC (p <0.01). VC was observed in 266 patients (51%) with mixed CAD; of these, 152 (57%) had CVC, 103 (39%) had AVC, and 11 (4%) had MAC (p <0.01). Conclusion: Isolated left CAD is associated with AVC or CVC more frequently than with MAC. In contrast, isolated right CAD is associated with MAC or CVC, but rarely with AVC.