Ocular treatment of cystinosis with eye drop containing cysteamine

Abstract

Cystinosis is a rare lysosomal storage disease affecting amino acid metabolism, characterized by the accumulation and crystallization of cystine in various tissues, primarily in the eye and kidney. The major ophthalmic symptom is photophobia, which is related to the corneal deposition of cystine crystals. The light sensitivity significantly impairs the quality of life of the affected patients, thus, effective ophthalmic treatment to reduce the crystal density is very importance. In the current case report, we present the characteristic ocular clinical appearance and treatment options of cystinosis by reviewing the literature. A simple aqueous solution of cysteamine, which aids in the dissolution of crystals, has been widely used in topical treatment in the past, however, its therapeutic efficacy is debatable. Recently, a new viscous formulation of cysteamine has been proposed for ophthalmic treatment. For the treatment of corneal cystine crystals in our patient, the new viscous format of cysteamine has been applied, and therapeutic effects were recorded for a year. Applying the viscous cysteamine formulation, a marked and gradual decrease in photophobia was observed in our patient in the first year of the treatment. Anterior-segment optical coherence tomography and in vivo confocal microscopy represented a continuous decrease in the density of corneal crystals even from the first month of the treatment period. The aim of our case report is to present the ophthalmic symptoms of cystinosis and the results of the first clinical application of viscous formulation of cysteamin eye drops in Hungary in a cystinosis patient.

• Authors: Anita Csorba, Erika Maka, Attila Szabó, Kata Kelen, György Reusz, Zoltán Zsolt Nagy
• Journal: Orvosi hetilap (Orv Hetil) Vol. 163 Issue 21 Pg. 846-852 (May 22 2022) ISSN: 1788-6120 [Electronic] Hungary
• Vernacular Title: Ciszteamintartalmú szemcsepp alkalmazása cystinosisban
• PMID: 35598215 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cystine
• Cysteamine

Topics

• Cornea (metabolism)
• Corneal Diseases (diagnosis, drug therapy, etiology)
• Cysteamine (metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Cystine (chemistry, metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Cystinosis (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Photophobia (etiology)
• Quality of Life
• Visual Acuity