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[Chronic hiccups].
J Cabane1, V Desmet, J P Derenne
1Service de Médecine Interne (Pr J. C. IMBERT), Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris.
La Revue De Medecine Interne
|November 1, 1992
Summary
Reflux esophagitis is the most common cause of chronic hiccups in adults. Hiccups can create a cycle with esophageal issues, making treatment challenging, though baclofen shows some promise.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Neurology
Background:
- Chronic hiccups, defined as lasting over 48 hours, present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in adults.
- Investigating the underlying causes and effective treatments for persistent hiccups is crucial for patient management.
Observation:
- Reflux esophagitis was identified as the most frequent cause, accounting for 50% of the 18 reported adult cases.
- A potential vicious cycle where hiccups induce esophageal dyskinesia, leading to gastroesophageal reflux, was observed.
Findings:
- Treatment primarily focused on addressing the root cause, but hiccups often persisted even after successful intervention for conditions like reflux esophagitis.
- Central nervous system depressants and muscle relaxants showed limited efficacy, with baclofen demonstrating a 60% initial response rate.
Implications:
- Understanding the complex interplay between hiccups and gastroesophageal reflux is essential for developing targeted therapies.
- Baclofen emerges as a potentially effective pharmacological option for managing intractable chronic hiccups, warranting further investigation.