Clinical polymorphism of cystinosis encephalopathy. Results of treatment with cysteamine

Of the 26 cystinotic patients over 19 years of age followed in our institution, 7 developed CNS complications at a mean age of 23 years. Two forms were observed. The first, associating cerebellar and pyramidal signs, mental deterioration and finally pseudo-bulbar palsy, may be called cystinosis encephalopathy. The other form resembled a stroke-like episode with coma and hemiplegia or milder symptoms. Hydrocephalus was rare and not associated with clinical symptoms in this series. Cysteamine was administered for longer than 6 months to 4 of the patients with encephalopathy. Two had an almost complete disappearance of their symptoms including the gross abnormalities of MR imaging in one; one improved partially and remained stable, and one continued to deteriorate but was suspected of noncompliance. These results suggest that cysteamine may be an effective treatment of cystinosis encephalopathy and encourage prescription of this drug in cystinosis in order to prevent this complication