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19 patients affected by discrete subvalvular aortic stenosis were studied by M-mode echocardiography. The diagnosis was confirmed by cardiac catheterism and angiocardiography and by anatomic evidence in operative room. The most frequent echocardiographic pattern was the abnormal protosystolic movement of aortic valve leaflets, that was found in all the patients. A discrete linear echo in the outflow tract of the left ventricle was observed in almost half of the cases. In 40% of the cases the left ventricular outflow tract was narrowed. The relations between these echocardiographic patterns and the anatomical kinds of discrete subaortic stenosis are discussed. No correlations were found between echocardiographic patterns and severity of the subaortic stenosis.

In 96 patients with coronary artery disease a coronary arteriography was performed twice at least with some months' interval, in order to establish the rate of progression of coronary atherosclerosis and the factors which could affect this progression. It was possible to select patients with progression of the coronary arteria lesions from patients with no increase of coronary stenosis. From the angiographic point of view, the progression of angina and the appearance of myocardial infarction are connected with a general progression of arterial lesions on all main coronary branches. As to the electrocardiographic aspects, the ECG at rest give no informations about the evolution of the coronary disease. Among the risk factors the smoking only has some importance in order to predict the progression of the coronary atherosclerosis.

77 patients with aortic valve disease have undergone heart catheterization in prevision of valve replacement: in this group the incidence of angina pectoris and the incidence of coronary artery disease associated with the valvular disease have been evaluated. The most important data resulting from out study are: 1) High frequency of angina pectoris both aortic stenosis and in aortic regurgitation: respectively about 60% and 50%. 2) The frequency of coronary atherosclerosis associated with aortic valve disease is much higher in aortic stenosis than in aortic regurgitation: respectively 35% versus 15%. 3) Coronary atherosclerosis associated with aortic stenosis frequently occurs (about 30%) also in young-aged patients (under 40 years). On the contrary in case of aortic regurgitation it occurs much more frequently in elderly patients. 4) The absence of angina both in aortic stenosis and in aortic regurgitation virtually excludes the presence of associated coronary atherosclerosis. 5) The presence of angina in aortic stenosis indicated either severe valvular stenosis or associated coronary artery disease (in this case the valvular stenosis is mild or moderate). The presence of angina in aortic regurgitation indicates either severe impairment of left ventricular performance or associated coronary atherosclerosis.