[Significance of esophagocardiac reflexes for inducing thoracic pain]

In the clinical setting the cardiologists' interest is focussed on the esophagus as a potential source of thoracic pain as a differential diagnosis of angina pectoris. However, visceral afferences originating in the mucosal wall of the esophagus activated by acid exposure may also influence cardiac function. The available data convincingly demonstrate a reduction of the exertional angina threshold and changes of the ECG (ST segment depression and arrhythmia). These effects are most likely due to a reduced coronary blood flow.