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Living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease axonal type 2S

A rare inherited nerve condition causing slowly worsening weakness in the arms and legs, with a range of onset ages.

Understanding Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease axonal type 2S

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease axonal type 2S is a rare type of inherited nerve disease affecting both movement and feeling.

It causes slowly worsening weakness and wasting in the arms and legs, absent or reduced reflexes, mild loss of feeling, foot drop, and high foot arches. Some babies have low muscle tone and delayed motor skills. Scoliosis and autonomic problems may occur. It can start at a variety of ages.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Weakness in the legs
  • Weakness in the arms
  • Absent reflexes in the arms and legs
  • Loss of feeling in the hands and feet
  • Foot drop
  • High-arched feet (pes cavus)

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in IGHMBP2 are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Expert lists: The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with CMT Research Foundation and other patient organizations
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Can IGHMBP2 genetic testing confirm the diagnosis?
What mobility aids and therapy might help?
Should the spine and autonomic function be monitored?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually starta variety of ages
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesIGHMBP2

Changes in the IGHMBP2 gene cause this condition. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive way, so a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent.

GeneticNeurological

Also known as: autosomal recessive axonal charcot-marie-tooth type 2s; charcot-marie-tooth disease caused by mutation in ighmbp2; charcot-marie-tooth disease type 2s; charcot-marie-tooth disease, axonal, autosomal recessive, type 2s; charcot-marie-tooth neuropathy type 2s; charcot-marie-tooth neuropathy, type 2s

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease axonal type 2SGARD ID 17751 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease axonal type 2S.

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