Cystinuria

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Cystinuria is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

Cistinuria
Cystine-Lysine-Arginine-Ornithinuria
Cystinuria with Dibasic Aminoaciduria

Disorder Subdivisions

Cystinuria, Type I
Cystinuria, Type II
Cystinuria, Type III
Hypercystinuria

General Discussion

Cystinuria is an inherited metabolic disorder characterized by the abnormal movement (transport) in the intestines and kidneys, of certain organic chemical compounds (amino acids). These include cystine, lysine, arginine, and ornithine. Excessive amounts of undissolved cystine in the urine (cystinuria) cause the formation of stones (calculi) in the kidney, bladder, and/or ureter.

Four subtypes of Cystinuria are recognized. In Type I Cystinuria, there is a defect in the active transport of cystine and the amino acids (dibasic) lysine, arginine, and ornithine in the kidneys and small intestine. People who are carriers of the gene for this type of the disorder generally have no symptoms. In Type II Cystinuria, cystine and lysine transport is severely impaired in the kidneys and only somewhat impaired in the intestines. In Type III Cystinuria, kidney transport of cystine and lysine is defective; intestinal transport is normal. People who are carriers of the gene for this variety of the disease typically have slightly elevated levels of cystine and lysine in the urine. In Hypercystinuria, there is generally a moderate elevation of cystine in the urine; intestinal absorption of cystine and the dibasic amino acids is normal.

Resources

Cystinuria Support Network
21001 NE 36th Street
Sammamish, WA 98074
Tel: (425)868-2996
Fax: (425)897-0675
Email: cystinuria@aol.com
Internet: http://www.cystinuria.com

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
Tel: (914)428-7100
Fax: (914)997-4763
Tel: (888)663-4637
Email: Askus@marchofdimes.com
Internet: http://www.marchofdimes.com

American Kidney Fund, Inc.
6110 Executive Boulevard
Suite 1010
Rockville, MD 20852
USA
Tel: 3018813052
Fax: 3018810898
Tel: 8006388299
Email: helpline@kindeyfund.org
Internet: http://www.kidneyfund.org

National Kidney Foundation
30 East 33rd Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212)889-2210
Fax: (212)689-9261
Tel: (800)622-9010
Email: info@kidney.org
Internet: http://www.kidney.org

Pak, Charles Y.C., M.D.
University of Texas South Western Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 7a5235
Tel: (214)688-3111

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 4/24/2007
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2003, 2007 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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