#4432 ECYSCO: A EUROPEAN COHORT DEDICATED TO CYSTINOSIS
Authors: Servais Aude , Gueguen Sonia , Greco Marcella , Levtchenko Elena , Ariceta Gema , Hogan Julien , Bertholet-Thomas Aurélia , Hohenfellner Katharina , Arshad Sulaiman , Amselem Serge , Niaudet Patrick 
Published: June 2023

Background and Aims

Cystinosis is a rare multisystem lysosomal storage disease due to variants in the CTNS gene, coding for the carrier protein cystinosine, a lysosome membrane transporter causing cystine accumulation with a reported incidence of 1:180,000 live births. Specific treatment by cysteamine decreases renal and extrarenal complications frequency and increases life expectancy. Recently, new treatments for cystinosis entered into the European market with an extended-release formulation of cysteamine and a new formulation of eye drops. The aim of this project is to describe the natural history of the disease and long-term clinical manifestations.

Method

We set up a European, multi-centre, longitudinal, non-interventional cohort, ECYSCO, that uses observational study methods to collect uniform data. 243 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of cystinosis and followed in 25 French and 5 European centers (Belgium, Italy, Spain and Germany) were included. Data are collected on the secure RaDiCo platform, via an e-CRF (REDCap).

Results

Data from 180 patients (50.0% male) were analyzed. Median age at diagnosis was 1.3 years [IQ 0.8; 1.9], with earlier diagnosis since the 1980s, but no further improvement in the 2000s. Genetic analysis was available for 174 patients: 57 (32.8%) presented with homozygous 57kb deletion in the CTNS gene, 71 (40.8%) with heterozygous 57kb deletion associated with another variant and 46 (26.4%) with other variants. The type of variant had no impact on the age at diagnosis. Median age at cysteamine start was 1,6 years (IQ 1.0-3.0). An improvement on age at treatment start was observed after the 1990s. All but 6 patients were treated with cysteamine. 71 patients received immediate release formulation (Cystagon®) and 103 received extended release formulation (Procysbi®). Median white blood cell cystine level was correct at 1.2 nmol ½ cystine/mg protein (IQ 0.59; 2.20). The median duration of treatment was 21.5 years [IQ 11.7; 31.1]. 167 (95,9%) patients also received cysteamine ocular gel, Cystadrops®. Median age at inclusion was 19.08 years (IQ 10.43; 31.41). At that time, 104 patients (57.8%) had reached end-stage renal disease (ESRD). There was no impact of genotype on age at ESRD. Median age at ESRD was 12.9 years [IQ 9.9; 18.0]. A 5-year gain in renal survival was observed after the 1990s. 102 patients (56.7%) received a kidney transplant. Among these transplanted patients: 76 (74.5%) received 1 transplant, 23 (22.5%) received 2 consecutive transplants, and 3 (2.9%) received 3. Median eGFR in the remaining patients was 58.9 ml/min [IQ 40.4; 82.2]. Extrarenal manifestations included hypothyroidism in 61 (33.9%) patients, diabetes mellitus in 11 (6.1%), skeletal manifestations in 73 (40.5%), myopathy in 32 (17.8%), and neurological disorders in 22 (12.2%). At inclusion, 36 patients had no ESRD and no extra-renal complication.

Conclusion

Cystinosis is a good example of a pediatric disease with multiorgan involvement extending into adult care. More than half of patients are adults and have reached ESRD even if age at renal replacement therapy start has increased. The high frequency of extra-renal manifestations demonstrates the importance of a multidisciplinary follow up of these patients.