Treadmill exercise test in aortic stenosis and mitral stenosis.

The incidence of positive submaximal treadmill exercise tests was evaluated in patients with mitral stenosis and aortic stenosis, no electrocardiographic evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy, and normal coronary arteries on angiography. Seven of 19 patients (37 percent) with aortic stenosis (53 to 80 mm Hg gradient across the aortic valve) had greater than or equal to 1.0 mm of ischemic S-T segment depression during or after a submaximal treadmill test. Three of 15 patients (20 percent) with mitral stenosis (11 to 22 mm Hg mean gradient across the mitral valve) had greater than or equal to 1.0 mm of ischemic S-T segment depression during or after a submaximal treadmill exercise test. Patients with significant valvular disease, no electrocardiographic evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy, and normal coronary arteries may have a positive submaximal treadmill exercise test due to an unfavorable balance between myocardial oxygen supply and myocardial oxygen demand.