Case report reveals GJB1 mutation presenting with area postrema syndrome, suggesting misdiagnosis risk in CNS symptoms.
Background: Area postrema syndrome (APS) is a core feature of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 1X (CMT1X), caused by gap junction protein beta-1 ( GJB1 ) mutations, can rarely involve the central nervous system (CNS). Objectives: To report a case of CMT1X presenting with APS mimicking NMOSD. Methods: Clinical, electrophysiological, radiological, and genetic evaluations were performed. Results: A 43-year-old woman experienced intractable hiccups, nausea, and a dorsal medullary lesion. Genetic testing revealed a pathogenic GJB1 p.Arg22Gln variant. The lesion resolved, and she remained relapse-free without maintenance immunotherapy. Conclusion: GJB1 -related disorders should be considered in patients with episodic CNS symptoms, particularly when accompanied by features of hereditary neuropathy, to avoid misdiagnosis.
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Cheng et al. (2026) studied this question.
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