A Fatal Disease Hidden Behind a Common Symptom: Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Recently, a number of clinical features have been identified in the diagnosis, and this disorder has been expanded to include a wider spectrum. It is important to have knowledge of...

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Main Authors: Vishal Chandra Sharma, Anisha Umashankar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2022-04-01
Series:Indian Journal of Medical Specialities
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/injms.injms_99_21
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author Vishal Chandra Sharma
Anisha Umashankar
author_facet Vishal Chandra Sharma
Anisha Umashankar
author_sort Vishal Chandra Sharma
collection DOAJ
description Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Recently, a number of clinical features have been identified in the diagnosis, and this disorder has been expanded to include a wider spectrum. It is important to have knowledge of these syndromes to diagnose this condition. One such presentation is intractable vomiting and hiccoughs, which is categorized as area postrema syndrome (APS) and is often misdiagnosed as a digestive disorder. We present a case of young female presenting with unresolving vomiting and hiccoughs. Magnetic resonance imaging done showed lesions in the dorsal medulla, suggestive of APS. A positive immunoglobulin G aquaporin-4 antibody confirmed the diagnosis of NMOSD. With this case report, we try to reiterate the importance of knowing the varied presentations of NMOSD and vigilance in identifying that a common symptom such as vomiting/hiccough can be due to an uncommon disorder.
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spelling doaj-art-5fb2db01a4684ff1927a1edf9bcb045a2025-08-25T08:38:17ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Medical Specialities0976-28840976-28922022-04-0113212412610.4103/injms.injms_99_21A Fatal Disease Hidden Behind a Common Symptom: Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum DisorderVishal Chandra SharmaAnisha UmashankarNeuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Recently, a number of clinical features have been identified in the diagnosis, and this disorder has been expanded to include a wider spectrum. It is important to have knowledge of these syndromes to diagnose this condition. One such presentation is intractable vomiting and hiccoughs, which is categorized as area postrema syndrome (APS) and is often misdiagnosed as a digestive disorder. We present a case of young female presenting with unresolving vomiting and hiccoughs. Magnetic resonance imaging done showed lesions in the dorsal medulla, suggestive of APS. A positive immunoglobulin G aquaporin-4 antibody confirmed the diagnosis of NMOSD. With this case report, we try to reiterate the importance of knowing the varied presentations of NMOSD and vigilance in identifying that a common symptom such as vomiting/hiccough can be due to an uncommon disorder.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/injms.injms_99_21area postremaintractable hiccoughintractable vomitingneuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
spellingShingle Vishal Chandra Sharma
Anisha Umashankar
A Fatal Disease Hidden Behind a Common Symptom: Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder
Indian Journal of Medical Specialities
area postrema
intractable hiccough
intractable vomiting
neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
title A Fatal Disease Hidden Behind a Common Symptom: Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder
title_full A Fatal Disease Hidden Behind a Common Symptom: Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder
title_fullStr A Fatal Disease Hidden Behind a Common Symptom: Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder
title_full_unstemmed A Fatal Disease Hidden Behind a Common Symptom: Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder
title_short A Fatal Disease Hidden Behind a Common Symptom: Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder
title_sort fatal disease hidden behind a common symptom neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
topic area postrema
intractable hiccough
intractable vomiting
neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/injms.injms_99_21
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