THE RECOGNITION OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE IN THE PRESENCE OF PULMONARY DISEASE

Abstract

Coronary heart disease and pulmonary heart disease are common diseases occurring at the same age. The symptomatology of breathlessness and chest pain is similar. Radiology may help in the recognition of pulmonary disease but does not help in coronary heart disease except perhaps by demonstrating left ventricular enlargement when there is no other cardiac cause. Coronary heart disease may affect the pulmonary arteriolar bed and by pro- ducing pulmonary hypertension result in right ventricular hypertrophy (Thomas, James, and Owen, 1962). We have occasionally been surprised to discover significant coronary artery disease at necropsy when extensive cardio-respiratory investigation had not revealed its presence. Some workers consider that pulmonary heart disease can give rise to left ventricular hypertrophy It therefore seemed important to us to try to detect the presence of coronary heart disease in patients with pulmonary disease. Cardiography, using conventional and computer analysis, seemed best suited to this purpose.