Inherited Fanconi syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Fanconi-Debré-de Toni syndrome (also known as Fanconi renotubular syndrome, or FRST) profoundly increased the understanding of the functions of the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) and provided important insights into the pathophysiology of several kidney diseases and drug toxicities. DATA SOURCES: We searched Pubmed and Scopus databases to find relevant articles about FRST. This review article focuses on the physiology of the PCT, as well as on the physiopathology of FRST in children, its diagnosis, and treatment. RESULTS: FRST encompasses a wide variety of inherited and acquired PCT alterations that lead to impairment of PCT reabsorption. In children, FRST often presents as a secondary feature of systemic disorders that impair energy supply, such as Lowe's syndrome, Dent's disease, cystinosis, hereditary fructose intolerance, galactosemia, tyrosinemia, Alport syndrome, and Wilson's disease. Although rare, congenital causes of FRST greatly impact the morbidity and mortality of patients and impose diagnostic challenges. Furthermore, its treatment is diverse and considers the ability of the clinician to identify the correct etiology of the disease. CONCLUSION: The early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric patients with FRST improve the prognosis and the quality of life.

Dual Molecular Diagnoses of Recessive Disorders in a Child from Consanguineous Parents: Case Report and Literature Review.

The widespread use of whole exome sequencing (WES) resulted in the discovery of multilocus pathogenic variations (MPV), defined as two or more distinct or overlapping Mendelian disorders occurring in a patient, leading to a blended phenotype. In this study, we report on a child with autosomal recessive primary microcephaly-5 (MCPH5) and nephropathic cystinosis. The proband is the first child of consanguineous parents, presenting a complex phenotype including neurodevelopmental delay, microcephaly, growth restriction, significant delay of bone maturation, lissencephaly, and abnormality of neuronal migration, photophobia, and renal tubular acidosis. WES revealed two pathogenic and homozygous variants: a c.4174C>T variant in the ASPM gene and a c.382C>T variant in the CTNS gene, explaining the complex phenotype. The literature review showed that most of the patients harboring two variants in recessive disease genes are born to consanguineous parents. To the best of our knowledge, the patient herein described is the first one harboring pathogenic variants in both the ASPM and CTNS genes. These findings highlight the importance of searching for MPV in patients with complex phenotypes investigated by genome-wide testing methods, especially for those patients born to consanguineous parents.

Implementation of an intraleukocitary cystine quantification method for diagnosis of cystinosis. / Implementación de un método para la cuantificación de cistina intraleucocitaria como apoyo diagnóstico para la cistinosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cystinosis is an inborn error of metabolism, clinically characterised by severe renal involvement and development of corneal cystine deposits, especially in the adult form of the disease. Cystinosis is a treatable condition. Therefore, an early diagnosis is necessary to start therapy. For biochemical confirmation of the condition it is necessary to quantify intracellular cystine concentrations. For this, different methods have been described with variations in cell isolation strategies and the amino acid quantification techniques used. In order to improve confirmatory biochemical diagnosis in our setting, a protocol for intraleukocitary cystine quantification was established. METHODS: A high performance liquid chromatography based method for cystine quantification in polymorphonuclear cells was implemented. Evaluation of the best anticoagulant to use and temperature stability of the sample at 4̊C were performed. In addition, we established reference values for our population. RESULTS: It was determined that intraleukocitary cystine quantification must be performed in blood samples containing acid-citrate-dextrose as anticoagulant. Samples must be processed immediately due to their poor stability even when refrigerated. Based on the results from 50 healthy individuals, the cut-off point established for our population was 0.34nmol 1/2 cystine/mg. CONCLUSION: The adaptation performed to the cystine quantification method here presented the highest control population that has been reported in the literature so far. Our results highlight the need for making available a cystine quantification method locally and confirm the convenience for each laboratory to establish its own reference values to provide greater reliability for interpreting results.

Oral alterations in patients with cystinosis.

Cystinosis is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder, which leads to abnormal accumulation of cysteine in various organs, including progressive dysfunction of kidneys. The most severe and frequent form, affecting ∼95% of patients, is termed infantile nephropathic cystinosis (NC) (OMIM 219800). We have reported oral findings in two patients with NC and described esthetic and functional rehabilitation in one of them. The first case describes a 16-year-old male patient, who was diagnosed with NC when he was 1-year-old. The patient exhibited generalized enamel hypoplasia, grade 1 drug-induced gingival overgrowth, caries lesion in molar tooth and supernumerary tooth (ie, distomolar). The second case describes a 14-year-old male patient diagnosed with NC at 3 years old. Clinical examination revealed generalized enamel hypoplasia and grade 1 drug-induced gingival overgrowth. Radiographic examination showed supernumerary tooth (mesiodens). The treatment included gingivoplasty and restoration with direct composite resin. The severity of hypoplasia highlights the importance of a dental rehabilitation treatment, as proposed here. Direct restoration with composite resin allowed harmony, function, and esthetics to be restored, in addition to being a rapid and low-cost technique.

Multidisciplinary approach for patients with nephropathic cystinosis: model for care in a rare and chronic renal disease / Abordagem multidisciplinar para pacientes com cistinose nefropática: modelo para atendimento em uma doença renal rara e crônica

Abstract Care for patients with chronic and rare diseases is complex, especially considering the lack of knowledge about the disease, which makes early and precise diagnosis difficult, as well as the need for specific tests, sometimes of high complexity and cost. Added to these factors are difficulties in obtaining adequate treatment when available, in raising patient and family awareness about the disease and treatment compliance. Nephropathic cystinosis is among these diseases. After more than 20 years as a care center for these patients, the authors propose a follow-up protocol, which has been used with improvement in the quality of care and consists of a multidisciplinary approach, including care provided by a physician, nurse, psychologist, nutritionist and social worker. In this paper, each field objectively exposes how to address points that involve the stages of diagnosis and its communication with the patient and their relatives or guardians, covering the particularities of the disease and the treatment, the impact on the lives of patients and families, the approach to psychological and social issues and guidelines on medications and diets. This protocol could be adapted to the follow-up of patients with other rare diseases, including those with renal involvement. This proposal is expected to reach the largest number of professionals involved in the follow-up of these patients, strengthening the bases for the creation of a national protocol, observing the particularities of each case.

Resumo A assistência a pacientes com doenças crônicas e raras é complexa, principalmente pela falta de disseminação de conhecimento sobre a doença, o que dificulta o diagnóstico preciso e precoce, além da necessidade da realização de exames específicos, por vezes de alta complexidade e custo. Somam-se a esses fatores dificuldades na obtenção de tratamento adequado quando disponível, na conscientização do paciente e da família sobre a doença e na aderência ao tratamento. A cistinose nefropática está entre essas doenças. Após mais de 20 anos como centro de atendimento a esses pacientes, os autores propõem um protocolo de seguimento, o qual vem sendo empregado com melhora na qualidade da assistência e consiste de uma abordagem multidisciplinar, incluindo, principalmente, atendimento prestado por médico, enfermeiro, psicólogo, nutricionista e assistente social. Neste artigo, cada área expõe de maneira objetiva como abordar pontos que envolvem as etapas do diagnóstico e sua comunicação ao paciente e a seus familiares ou responsáveis, abrangendo as particularidades da doença e do tratamento, o impacto na vida do paciente e de sua família, a abordagem das questões psicológicas e sociais e orientações quanto a medicamentos e dietas. Considera-se que este protocolo poderia ser adaptado ao seguimento de pacientes portadores de outras doenças raras, incluindo aquelas com envolvimento renal. Com essa proposta, espera-se alcançar o maior número de profissionais envolvidos no seguimento desses pacientes, fortalecendo as bases para a criação de um protocolo nacional, observando-se as particularidades de cada caso.

Uveítis anterior aguda asociada a raquitismo renal hipofosfatémico / Acute anterior uveítis associated to hypophosphatemic renal ricketts

Los raquitismos hipofosfatémicos hereditarios son un grupo de enfermedades caracterizadas por la pérdida renal de fosfatos. Cursan con hipocrecimiento disarmónico y deformidades óseas. La forma más común es el raquitismo hipofosfatémico ligado al cromosoma X, el cual es causado por mutaciones inactivantes en el gen PHEX. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo fue describir las alteraciones oculares encontradas y la evolución clínica en un paciente con raquitismo hipofosfatémico hereditario y uveítis anterior. Se presenta un niño de 9 años de edad con diagnóstico de raquitismo hipofosfatémico hereditario, valorado en el Servicio de Uveítis del Instituto Cubano de Oftalmología Ramón Pando Ferrer por presentar dolor ocular y molestias a la luz en el ojo derecho. En la exploración oftalmológica se constata una uveítis anterior con hipopión en el ojo derecho y depósitos de cristales en todo el espesor corneal y el iris en ambos ojos. Se indicaron esteroides tópicos con resolución del proceso inflamatorio. Los hallazgos en el segmento anterior del paciente son sugestivos de cistinosis, donde el acúmulo de cristales es la alteración corneal más típica de las manifestaciones oculares, con una incidencia del 90 por ciento en niños menores de un año, y los primeros órganos afectados son los riñones. Los raquitismos hipofosfatémicos hereditarios pueden cursar con depósitos de cristales corneales y procesos inflamatorios de la úvea anterior(AU)

Hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets are a group of diseases characterized by renal loss of phosphates. They appear with disharmonic hypogrowth and bone deformities. The most common form is the X-chromosome-linked hypophosphatemic rickets which is caused by inactivating mutations in PHEX gene. The objective of our work was to describe the ocular alterations and the clinical evolution in a patient with hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets and previous uveitis. Here is the case of a 9 years-old boy diagnosed with hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets, who was seen at the Uveitis Service of Ramon Pando Ferrer Cuban Institute of Ophthalmology. He presented with ocular pain and feeling of discomfort to light in his right eye. The ophthalmological exam yielded anterior uveitis with hypopyon in his right eye and crystal depots in the whole corneal thickness and the iris of both eyes. Topical steroids were prescribed to treat the inflammatory process. The findings in the anterior segment of the patients indicated the presence of cystinosis in which the accumulation of crystals is the most typical corneal alteration among the ocular manifestations. Its incidence reaches 90 percent in under one year-old children and the first affected organs are the kidneys. The hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets may appear with corneal crystal depots and inflammatory processes in the anterior uvea(AU)

Uveítis anterior aguda asociada a raquitismo renal hipofosfatémico / Acute anterior uveítis associated to hypophosphatemic renal ricketts

Los raquitismos hipofosfatémicos hereditarios son un grupo de enfermedades caracterizadas por la pérdida renal de fosfatos. Cursan con hipocrecimiento disarmónico y deformidades óseas. La forma más común es el raquitismo hipofosfatémico ligado al cromosoma X, el cual es causado por mutaciones inactivantes en el gen PHEX. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo fue describir las alteraciones oculares encontradas y la evolución clínica en un paciente con raquitismo hipofosfatémico hereditario y uveítis anterior. Se presenta un niño de 9 años de edad con diagnóstico de raquitismo hipofosfatémico hereditario, valorado en el Servicio de Uveítis del Instituto Cubano de Oftalmología Ramón Pando Ferrer por presentar dolor ocular y molestias a la luz en el ojo derecho. En la exploración oftalmológica se constata una uveítis anterior con hipopión en el ojo derecho y depósitos de cristales en todo el espesor corneal y el iris en ambos ojos. Se indicaron esteroides tópicos con resolución del proceso inflamatorio. Los hallazgos en el segmento anterior del paciente son sugestivos de cistinosis, donde el acúmulo de cristales es la alteración corneal más típica de las manifestaciones oculares, con una incidencia del 90 por ciento en niños menores de un año, y los primeros órganos afectados son los riñones. Los raquitismos hipofosfatémicos hereditarios pueden cursar con depósitos de cristales corneales y procesos inflamatorios de la úvea anterior(AU)

Hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets are a group of diseases characterized by renal loss of phosphates. They appear with disharmonic hypogrowth and bone deformities. The most common form is the X-chromosome-linked hypophosphatemic rickets which is caused by inactivating mutations in PHEX gene. The objective of our work was to describe the ocular alterations and the clinical evolution in a patient with hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets and previous uveitis. Here is the case of a 9 years-old boy diagnosed with hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets, who was seen at the Uveitis Service of Ramon Pando Ferrer Cuban Institute of Ophthalmology. He presented with ocular pain and feeling of discomfort to light in his right eye. The ophthalmological exam yielded anterior uveitis with hypopyon in his right eye and crystal depots in the whole corneal thickness and the iris of both eyes. Topical steroids were prescribed to treat the inflammatory process. The findings in the anterior segment of the patients indicated the presence of cystinosis in which the accumulation of crystals is the most typical corneal alteration among the ocular manifestations. Its incidence reaches 90 percent in under one year-old children and the first affected organs are the kidneys. The hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets may appear with corneal crystal depots and inflammatory processes in the anterior uvea(AU)

Cistinosis nefropática: caso clínico que ilustra diagnóstico molecular / Nephropatic cystinosis: report of one case

Nephropatic cystinosis (NC) is a rare disease associated with pathogenic variants in the CTNS gene, with a common variant that consists of a 57kb-deletion involving CTNS. Patients with NC that are treated with cysteamine improve their life quality and expectancy. We report a 12-month-old girl with a poor growth rate since the 4th month of life. She was admitted to the Hospital with acute kidney injury, severe dehydration and metabolic acidosis. She was treated with volume restorative and bicarbonate. Proximal tubulopathy and Fanconi's syndrome was diagnosed. Medical treatment improved renal function that was stabilized in stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD). Since infantile NC was suspected, CTNS genetic analysis was considered. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood to perform PCR for exons 3-12 in CTNS gene and for the specific 57kb-deletion PCR. Afterwards, variant segregation analysis was performed in the familiar trio. The genetic analysis showed that the patient was homozygous for the common 57kb-deletion encompassing CTNS that had been inherited from her asymptomatic heterozygous parents. The molecular confirmation allowed genetic counselling for parents and facilitated the access to cysteamine. Oral treatment with cysteamine resulted in improvement of renal function to CKD stage 3. After 16 months of treatment the patient shows metabolic stability and mild recovery of height. Ophthalmologic follow-up detected ocular cystine crystals 12 months after diagnosis, starting cysteamine drops.

Cristales oportunos: cistinosis nefropática. Reporte de caso / Timely cristals: nephropathic cystinosis. Case report

Objetivo: Describir el caso clínico de un paciente con Cistinosis Nefropática diagnosticado a muy temprana edad. Método: Reporte de caso. Resultados: Se reporta el caso de una paciente de 7 meses de edad, quien consulta con poliuria, piolidipsia, glucosuria y bajo peso para la edad. De acuerdo a protocolos de evaluación interdisciplinaria establecidos con el servicio de Pediatría se logra evidenciar hallazgos oculares que orientan al diagnóstico final de la paciente. Conclusión: La Cistinosis es una enfermedad rara, cursa con manifestaciones oculares que podrían orientar un diagnóstico temprano e incluso predecir la severidad de la enfermedad y brindar la posibilidad de un tratamiento temprano. Es importante establecer protocolos interdisciplinarios, de apoyo diagnóstico, ante la sospecha de enfermedades sistémicas con posible compromiso ocular, en lugar de desistir ante la dificultad para valorar a los niños en la consulta de oftalmología, sobre todo en aquellos menores de un año. Se demuestra este caso con fines académicos teniendo en cuenta la baja incidencia de la enfermedad, pero también para destacar la importancia de contar con protocolos de atención interdisciplinaria ante la sospecha de enfermedades metabólicas en todas las edades.

Purpose: To describe a case of an infant with Nephropathic Cystinosis and the ocular fi ndings that leads to the diagnosis. Method: Case report. Results: Th is report describe a prompt and accurate diagnosis of a 7 months old patient, who consults with polyuria, piolidipsia, glucosuria and low weight. According to interdisciplinary evaluation protocols previusly established with Pediatrics services, it was possible to demonstrate ocular fi ndings of the disease, guiding the physician to the fi nal diagnosis. Conclusion: Cystinosis is a rare disease, its clinical presentation has ocular manifestations that could guide diagnosis and even predict its severity, off ering the possibility of an early treatment. When one suspect a systemic disease, It is important to establish interdisciplinary protocol, instead of surrendering to the challenge of an ophthalmological examination of an infant. We choose this case due to its low incidence, but also to highlight the importance of having interdisciplinary care protocols when a metabolic disease is suspected.

Dental findings in a child with chronic renal failure secondary to cystinosis.

Cystinosis is a genetically determined metabolic disorder whose most prominent feature is end-stage renal disease. This case report describes the dental status of a 12-year-old child with a history of chronic renal failure secondary to cystinosis. Observed dental anomalies included enamel hypoplasia and hypocalcification, delayed dental development, and dental agenesis. Oral manifestations of nephropathic cystinosis are not well documented in the literature, so it is very important to highlight the dental characterizations of this complex disease.

CTNS gene analysis emphasizes diagnostic value of eye examination in patients with cystinosis.

Classic nephropathic cystinosis (CNC) is an autosomal recessive and infrequent inborn metabolic disease that should be suspected in all children who show failure to thrive and renal Fanconi syndrome (RFS). Slit-lamp examination reveals pathognomonic corneal deposits of cystine crystals in virtually all affected individuals after 12-16 mo of age. A diagnosis of CNC is difficult to confirm in children living in Mexico and most Latin American countries, because cystine levels can be measured only at a few locations. We report the cystinosin genotype findings in 15 Latin American patients with a high clinical suspicion of CNC mainly due to RFS (n =13), although five of them lacked proper ophthalmologic assessment, despite being more than 1-year-old. Molecular analysis confirmed diagnosis of CNC in six (40%) of the 15 patients, five of them with RFS and cystine crystals. The remaining nine (60%) patients had a normal genotype. The predominance of a normal cystinosin genotype in eight of 13 patients with RFS (61.50%) reinforces the need to perform slit-lamp examinations in all patients with RFS over 1 yr of age, prior to measuring cystine or performing molecular cystinosin study, both methods not readily available throughout Latin America.

Marcadores práticos de função renal em pacientes com cistinose / Practical markers of renal function in cystinosis patients

INTRODUÇÃO: Cistinose é uma doença sistêmica, autossômica recessiva, que leva à insuficiência renal crônica na infância, a não ser que o tratamento com cisteamina seja iniciado precocemente. Mesmo nestas condições, os pacientes evoluem para doença renal crônica terminal por volta da segunda década da vida. Portanto, a avaliação da função renal é essencial neste grupo de pacientes. OBJETIVO: Avaliar e correlacionar a cistatina C, creatinina sérica e o clearance de creatinina pela Fórmula de Schwartz em pacientes com cistinose, com diferentes graus de função renal. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos pacientes com menos de 18 anos de idade, com diferentes níveis de função renal, de acordo com o KDOQI em estágios 1 a 4. Nenhum dos pacientes estava em terapia de substituição renal. Foram medidos os seguintes parâmetros: cistatina C, creatinina sérica e o clearance de creatinina pela fórmula de Schwartz. RESULTADOS: Foram analisadas 103 amostras de sangue de 26 pacientes. Foi detectada correlação significativa entre creatinina sérica e cistatina C (r = 0,81, p < 0,0001), cistatina C e o clearance de creatinina pela fórmula de Schwartz (r = -0,84, p < 0,0001) e creatinina sérica e clearance de creatinina (r = -0,97, p < 0,0001). CONCLUSÕES: A medida da cistatina não mostrou nenhuma vantagem sobre a creatinina sérica e o clearance de creatinina pela fórmula de Schwartz em pacientes com cistinose para avaliar o ritmo de filtração glomerular. Este é o primeiro relato sobre o valor da creatinina sérica, do clearance de creatinina pela fórmula de Schwartz e da cistatina C em pacientes com cistinose.

BACKGROUND: Cystinosis is an autossomic recessive systemic disease that leads to renal insufficiency early in life unless cysteamine be started early. Unfortunately, even in this situation the patients will develop chronic renal disease with need of renal replacement therapy about second decade of life. Therefore, the renal function evaluation is essential to these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate cystatin C, serum creatinine and creatinine clearance estimated by stature (Schwartz Formula) in cystinosis patients, with different degrees of renal function, and to correlate these parameters. METHODS: We studied cystinosis patients, aged lower than 18 years, with different degrees of renal function, classified according to KDOQI in Chronic Kidney Disease stage 1 to 4. No patient was under renal replacement therapy. In these patients we evaluate the serum creatinine, cystatin C and creatinine clearance according to Schwartz Formula. RESULTS: We analyzed 103 blood samples of 26 patients. We detected a significant statistical correlation between serum creatinine and cystatin C (r = 0.81, p < 0.0001), cystatin C and creatinine clearance estimated by stature (r = -0.84, p < 0.0001) and between serum creatinine and creatinine clearance estimated by stature (r = -0.97, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The expensive measurement of cystatin C showed no advantage in relation to serum creatinine and creatinine clearance according to Schwartz Formula in cystinosis patients to estimate the glomerular filtration rate. This is the first report checking the value of serum creatinine, creatinine clearance estimated by stature and cystatin C in cystinosis patients.

Oxidative stress in cystinosis patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nephropathic cystinosis (NC) is a severe systemic disease and cysteamine improves its prognosis. Lysosomal cystine accumulation is the hallmark of cystinosis and is regarded as the primary defect due to mutations in the CTNS gene. However, there is great evidence that cystine accumulation itself is not responsible for all abnormalities observed in NC. Studies have demonstrated altered ATP metabolism, increased apoptosis, and cell oxidation. An increased number of autophagosomes and autophagic vacuoles have been observed in cystinotic fibroblasts and renal epithelial cells, suggesting that altered autophagy plays a role in NC, leading to increased production of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, cystinosis patients can be more susceptible to oxidative stress (OS) and it can contribute to the progression of the renal disease. Our goal was to evaluate a marker of OS (serum TBARS) in NC children, and to compare the results with those observed in healthy controls and correlated with renal function parameters. METHODS: The study included patients aged under 18 years, with good adherence to the treatment and out of renal replacement therapy. The following parameters were evaluated: serum creatinine, BUN, creatinine clearance estimated by stature and serum TBARS levels. RESULTS: We selected 20 patients aged 8.0 ±3.6 years and observed serum TBARS levels of 4.03 ±1.02 nmol/ml. Serum TBARS levels in the 43 healthy controls, aged 7.4 ±1.1 years, were 1.60 ±0.04 nmol/ml. There was a significant difference between the plasma TBARS levels among the 2 groups (p < 0.0001). We detected no significant correlation between plasma TBARS levels and renal function. CONCLUSION: An increased level of serum TBARS in patients with NC was observed and this abnormality was not correlated with the renal function status degree. This is the first report that shows increased oxidative stress in serum of NC patients.