Intractable hiccup and nausea with periaqueductal lesions in neuromyelitis optica

Neurology. 2005 Nov 8;65(9):1479-82. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000183151.19351.82.

Abstract

Intractable hiccup and nausea (IHN) was found in eight of 47 cases of relapsing neuromyelitis optica (NMO) (17%) but in none of 130 cases of multiple sclerosis (MS). IHN resolved with methylprednisolone. In six cases, MRI detected linear medullary lesions involving the pericanal region, the area postrema, and the nucleus tractus solitarius. Like long and centrally located myelitis, a linear medullary lesion causing IHN may distinguish NMO from MS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Aged
  • Area Postrema / pathology
  • Area Postrema / physiopathology
  • Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / etiology*
  • Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology
  • Child
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Hiccup / diagnosis
  • Hiccup / etiology*
  • Hiccup / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Medulla Oblongata / pathology
  • Medulla Oblongata / physiopathology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / diagnosis
  • Nausea / diagnosis
  • Nausea / etiology*
  • Nausea / physiopathology
  • Neural Pathways / pathology
  • Neural Pathways / physiopathology
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / complications*
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / diagnosis
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / physiopathology
  • Recurrence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Solitary Nucleus / pathology
  • Solitary Nucleus / physiopathology
  • Spinal Cord / pathology
  • Spinal Cord / physiopathology
  • Vagus Nerve / pathology
  • Vagus Nerve / physiopathology
  • Visceral Afferents / pathology
  • Visceral Afferents / physiopathology*