Cystinuria: Review of a Life-long and Frustrating Disease

Cystinuria, accounting for about 1-2% of kidney stones in adults, carries significant morbidity beginning at a young age [1]. Cystine stone formers have more stone events compared to other stone formers, as well as more surgical interventions, potentially contributing to faster progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD), and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) [2]. Successful medical therapy for cystine stone formers may be limited by adherence to the extensive lifestyle changes and the adverse side effect profiles of some interventions, leading to decreased quality of life for these patients relative to other stone formers.