A nine-year-old girl with cystinosis and severe memory problems: A drug or disease effect?

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kolthof, Henk Jan | Tjeenk-Kalff, Ariane C.

Affiliations: De Jutters, Mental Health Centre for Children and Adolescents, The Hague, The Netherlands

Note: [] Correspondence: Henk Jan Kolthof, M.D., Mentrum, Keizersgracht 572, 1017 EM Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 20 5904333; Fax: +31 20 5904334; E-mail: henkjan.kolthof@mentrum.nl

Abstract: Cerebral disorders are nowadays seen as a feature of nephropathic cystinosis. Describing specific cognitive profiles in children with cystinosis may help to elucidate the cause of the impairments seen. A 9-year-old girl with nephropathic cystinosis had a progressive decline in mental functioning, in particular severe memory problems. None of the cases reviewed described memory problems at such a young age, so it is difficult to ascertain the possible cause of the impairment. Although few cases with dementia are reported, there is apparently no direct association between cystinosis and memory problems. Neither has the medication cysteamine been associated with memory loss in humans.

Keywords: Cystinosis, memory problems, complications

Journal: Journal of Pediatric Neurology, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 335-341, 2007