[Cystinosis : Diagnosis, cystine-depleting therapy, and transition]

Jessica Kaufeld1, Lutz T Weber2, Christine Kurschat3

  • 1Klinik für Nieren- und Hochdruckerkrankungen, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Deutschland.

Der Internist
|April 20, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Cystinosis, a rare childhood disease, causes severe health issues if untreated. Early diagnosis and cysteamine therapy significantly improve outcomes and quality of life for affected individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Genetics
  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Lysosomal Storage Diseases

Background:

  • Cystinosis is a rare inherited metabolic disorder.
  • It is a lysosomal storage disease characterized by the accumulation of cystine in cells.
  • Early manifestations often include renal Fanconi syndrome.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a case of cystinosis in a young adult.
  • To highlight diagnostic challenges and the transition to adult care.
  • To emphasize the importance of timely intervention and treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Case report presentation.
  • Review of diagnostic criteria for cystinosis.
  • Discussion of treatment protocols and long-term management.

Main Results:

  • The article details the diagnosis of cystinosis in a young man.
  • It addresses the complexities of transitioning pediatric patients to adult care.
  • Untreated cystinosis leads to significant multi-organ impairment, including end-stage renal failure.

Conclusions:

  • Cystinosis requires early diagnosis for effective management.
  • Cystine-depleting therapy, such as with cysteamine, dramatically improves patient survival and quality of life.
  • Improved transition strategies are crucial for long-term adult care of cystinosis patients.

Related Concept Videos

Phase Transitions02:31

Phase Transitions

Whether solid, liquid, or gas, a substance's state depends on the order and arrangement of its particles (atoms, molecules, or ions). Particles in the solid pack closely together, generally in a pattern. The particles vibrate about their fixed positions but do not move or squeeze past their neighbors. In liquids, although the particles are closely spaced, they are randomly arranged. The position of the particles are not fixed—that is, they are free to move past their neighbors to...
23.3K
Properties of Transition Metals02:58

Properties of Transition Metals

Transition metals are defined as those elements that have partially filled d orbitals. As shown in Figure 1, the d-block elements in groups 3–12 are transition elements. The f-block elements, also called inner transition metals (the lanthanides and actinides), also meet this criterion because the d orbital is partially occupied before the f orbitals.
30.0K
Cooperative Allosteric Transitions01:58

Cooperative Allosteric Transitions

Cooperative allosteric transitions can occur in multimeric proteins, where each subunit of the protein has its own ligand-binding site. When a ligand binds to any of these subunits, it triggers a conformational change that affects the binding sites in the other subunits; this can change the affinity of the other sites for their respective ligands. The ability of the protein to change the shape of its binding site is attributed to the presence of a mix of flexible and stable segments in the...
8.9K
Phase Transitions: Vaporization and Condensation02:39

Phase Transitions: Vaporization and Condensation

The physical form of a substance changes on changing its temperature. For example, raising the temperature of a liquid causes the liquid to vaporize (convert into vapor). The process is called vaporization—a surface phenomenon. Vaporization occurs when the thermal motion of the molecules overcome the intermolecular forces, and the molecules (at the surface) escape into the gaseous state. When a liquid vaporizes in a closed container, gas molecules cannot escape. As these gas phase molecules...
21.6K
Phase Transitions: Sublimation and Deposition02:33

Phase Transitions: Sublimation and Deposition

Some solids can transition directly into the gaseous state, bypassing the liquid state, via a process known as sublimation. At room temperature and standard pressure, a piece of dry ice (solid CO2) sublimes, appearing to gradually disappear without ever forming any liquid. Snow and ice sublimate at temperatures below the melting point of water, a slow process that may be accelerated by winds and the reduced atmospheric pressures at high altitudes. When solid iodine is warmed, the solid sublimes...
20.3K
Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing02:39

Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing

Heating a crystalline solid increases the average energy of its atoms, molecules, or ions, and the solid gets hotter. At some point, the added energy becomes large enough to partially overcome the forces holding the molecules or ions of the solid in their fixed positions, and the solid begins the process of transitioning to the liquid state or melting. At this point, the temperature of the solid stops rising, despite the continual input of heat, and it remains constant until all of the solid is...
15.3K