Fou rire prodromique heralding a left internal carotid artery occlusion.
BACKGROUND
Four rire prodromique, described as pathological laughter preceding the onset of an apoplectic attack, is a rare phenomenon.


METHODS
A 61-year-old man manifested pathological laughter before a sudden right hemiplegia. MRI showed a left lenticular and caudate nucleus infarct with involvement of the external capsule and prerolandic area. MRA revealed a left internal carotid and middle cerebral artery occlusion.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinicoanatomic correlates of this phenomenon are discussed.
Carel
C
C
INSERM U455, hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France.
Albucher
J F
JF
Manelfe
C
C
Guiraud-Chaumeil
B
B
Chollet
F
F
D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007845:Laughter / Q000502:physiology*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler