Warning Signs And Complications Of Cystinosis

Cystinosis is a rare genetic disorder affecting multiple systems throughout the body. Patients with this condition accumulate cystine, an amino acid, throughout tissues and organ systems like the brain, pancreas, liver, muscles, eyes, and kidneys. Cystinosis comes in three categories: nephropathic, intermediate, and non-nephropathic. Symptom severity and age of onset vary wildly. It's essential for cystinosis to be detected and treated before irreversible damage is done to the organs. Though it is a progressive disorder with no known cure, advancements in medical technology have increased the average patient's lifespan to more than fifty years. The disease occurs because the patient's body does not have the necessary transporter to remove cystine.