EFFECT OF ESOPHAGEAL ACID INSTILLATION ON CORONARY BLOOD-FLOW

To assess whether gastrointestinal factors can cause chest pain (''lin ked angina''), we studied the effect of oesophageal stimulation with a cid on coronary blood flow in 20 syndrome X patients. Coronary blood f low velocity (CBFV) was measured with an intracoronary doppler cathete r positioned in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. Acid stimulation produced typical anginal, pain in 11 patients. Mean CBFV was significantly reduced from 7.3 (SD 4.0) to 4.4 (2.8) cm/s. Ga stro-oesophageal reflux leading to reduced coronary blood flow may be a mechanism to explain linked angina.