[Untreatable hiccup as un unusual sign in a rostral occlusion syndrome of the basilar artery]. / Hipo intratable como manifestación inusual de un síndrome de oclusión rostral de la arteria basilar.

ABSTRACT

Hiccoughs (singultus) is a habitual physiological phenomenon, the persistence of which might indicate neurological and extraneurological multiple lesions. Its activation involves starting up numerous central and peripheral mechanisms which have yet to be clearly determined. Hiccoughs results from an intermittent myoclonus of the diaphragm, reflex in origin, with unknown authentic cause or physiological significance. It has been suggested that, more than just an abnormal reflex, it could be a type of myoclonus brought on by repeated activity of the 'solitary inspiratory nucleus', by releasing control of the inhibiting-activating upper nervous system activity. We present the case of a patient with uncontrollable hiccoughs lasting over six years as a result of paramedial bilateral thalamic ischaemia (rostral occlusion syndrome of the basilar artery type 1) of cardioembolic origin (auricular fibrillation) secondary to hyperthyroidism.