[Medical treatment of cystine lithiasis in children].

Prophylactic measures or dissolution by medical therapy was used to treat bladder cystine stones in 14 children over about a 10-year period. All patients received alpha-MPG (alpha-mercaptopropionylglycine) except one child allergic to alpha-MPG who was treated with DNP (D-penicillamine). In 10 patients the treatment was administered 11 times to dissolve the stones, with resulting total dissolution in 6 cases, partial removal in one case. Two patients are still under treatment and 2 cases failed to respond. Among the 12 patients receiving preventive therapy, only 2 cases were reported as developing recurrences, due in fact to irregular taking of medication. Lytic treatment proceeded without any particular problems, and results were more than satisfactory, but for preventive therapy the difficulty resides in its application and duration when confronted with the serious and frequent danger of a relapse.