Treatment of cystinuria with Thiola (alpha-mercaptopropionyl glycine)

Nine cystinuric patients (8 females and 1 male) with recurrent L-cystine stone formation have been treated since 1971 with the new drug Thiola (alpha-mercaptopropionyl glycine). Thiola was found to be more effective than D-penicillamine in dissolving L-cystine. In two case a partial dissolution was observed after 20 months of Thiola administration. In four cases further stone growth was stopped. In the last two cases stone growth occurred even after administration of Thiola. Tolerance of the drug was good, and no serious effects were observed sufficient to interrupt treatment.