Gastroparesis as the Sole Presenting Feature of Neuromyelitis Optica

A 33-year-old African-American woman recently diagnosed with severe idiopathic gastroparesis was readmitted for hypoxic respiratory failure secondary to aspiration pneumonia. A fiber-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallow study revealed severe pharyngeal dysphagia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed an ill-defined lesion in the posterior aspect of the medulla concerning for a demyelinating process. Serum neuromyelitis optica immunoglobulin G returned positive. Neuromyelitis optica treatment resulted in the patient’s clinical improvement. She is currently on a suppressive regimen of intravenous rituximab and is recovering well.