Atypical progressive angina pectoris caused by a congenital coronary-pulmonary shunt and coronary atherosclerosis.

A 57-year-old man with atypical progressive angina caused by congenital coronary-pulmonary shunt and coronary atherosclerosis is described. The angina was rather consistently unresponsive to nitroglycerin. Following closure of the shunt and aortocoronary bypass surgery, the patient became asymptomatic and has remained free of angina 2 year postoperatively. Although the congenital anomaly is rare in adults, it may be considered in the differential diagnosis of atypical angina pectoris, particularly when there is either continuous murmur or systolic murmur over the lower parasternal area.