# Prolonged hiccups induced by renal infarction: a case report

## TL;DR

A patient with prolonged hiccups was found to have a kidney infarction, suggesting a link between kidney issues and persistent hiccups.

## Contribution

This case report highlights a novel association between renal infarction and prolonged hiccups.

## Key findings

- Prolonged hiccups in a patient were linked to a diagnosis of right renal infarction.
- Computed tomography images supported the hypothesis that kidney inflammation stimulated the diaphragm, causing hiccups.

## Abstract

Hiccups are common symptoms that last for less than 48 hours. However, we encountered a case of renal infarction in a patient with prolonged hiccup. The relationship between hiccups and renal infarction is important in differentiating patients with prolonged hiccups.

An 87-year-old Japanese man with atrial fibrillation and receiving antithrombotic therapy presented to the emergency department with prolonged hiccups. The patient discontinued antithrombotic therapy for atrial fibrillation due to subcortical bleeding, after which he experienced right back pain. He was diagnosed with right renal infarction based on computed tomography images, and the antithrombotic therapy was continued. The patient’s hiccups ceased, and he was discharged on hospital day 11.

Hiccups can be induced by various clinical conditions. It is hypothesized that the inflammation of the right kidney infarction stimulated the diaphragm and induced prolonged hiccups in this patient; this theory is supported by the computed tomography images. This case report shows that internal organ diseases irritating the diaphragm can cause hiccups, and renal disease should be considered in patients with prolonged hiccups.