Rare variant of Remkheld syndrome

Abstract

Introduction. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be accompanied by a triad of cardiac symptoms (arrhythmia, cardialgia, signs of autonomic dysfunction). This syndrome is called gastro-cardiac or Remheld syndrome. The most common rhythm disturbances in Remheld syndrome are atrial fibrillation, supraventricular extrasystole. In the clinical case we have described, a rare variant of Remheld’s syndrome is presented: paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia with GERD.Description of the clinical case. Patient V., 48 years old, applied to a cardiologist on 21.04.21 with complaints of attacks of sudden palpitations, disturbing for six months. From the anamnesis it is known that since 2017 he has been suffering from GERD, he does not take drugs for stopping reflux attacks for 6 months, canceling it on his own. According to Holter ECG monitoring from 03/20/21, paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia was revealed. According to echocardioscopy data from 04/26/21, no structural changes that could be the cause of this life-threatening rhythm disturbance were found. Video gastroscopy from 04/28/21: distal reflux esophagitis. Endoscopic signs of hiatal hernia. Lack of cardia 2 tbsp. Gastroesophageal prolapse. At the consultation with a gastroenterologist, the patient was prescribed both non-drug (lifestyle correction) and drug treatment: rabeprozole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin and others. In addition for the relief of paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia—amiodarone, telmisartan.Discussion. According to studies, one of the mechanisms of arrhythmia in GERD is associated with the excitation of the distal esophagus by refluctate with the development of viscero-visceral reflexes mediated through n. vagus. Increased activation of n. vagus creates an arrhythmogenic substrate for the re-entry mechanism, and thus increases the risk of arrhythmias. Antiarrhythmic therapy along with the treatment of GERD led to the elimination of VT paroxysms. Later, 2 months after the withdrawal of antiarrhythmic drugs against the background of ongoing GERD therapy, paroxysms of VT were not recorded. This was also a confirmation of the pathogenetic relationship between GERD and paroxysmal VT.Conclusion. The case is of interest to the development of a life-threatening rhythm disturbance: paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia against the background of GERD, which is a very rare variant of Remkheld’s syndrome and is not found in the available literature.