[Takotsubo cardiomyopathy as a consequence of gastrointestinal disorder--a case preceded by exacerbation of gastroesophageal reflux disease].

The etiology of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC), defined as a transient left ventricular dysfunction in the absence of significant coronary artery stenoses, still reminds unclear. Its onset is often associated with emotional stress or progression in the course of various disorders (including gastrointestinal ones), miscellaneous diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. We describe a case of a 67-year-old man, in whom severe left ventricular function impairment, completely reversible after a week, was observed during hospitalization for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) exacerbation. The authors review the literature on TC cases which were preceded by digestive system illness, examination or surgery and discuss the possible mechanisms of this relationship.