Urological intervention in patients with cystinuria is decreased with medical compliance.

PURPOSE: Theoretically patients with cystinuria compliant with medical treatment should undergo fewer surgical procedures than those noncompliant with treatment. We describe a single urologist's experience (SYN) with the effects of medical management on the number of surgical interventions required in patients with cystinuria treated at our metabolic stone clinic (MSC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 20 patients with cystine stones seen at our MSC (mean followup of 42.5 months) were evaluated. The number of surgical interventions (endourology or open surgery) during followup were recorded as surgical events. Patients were placed into a compliant or noncompliant category based on their attendance record at scheduled appointments at our MSC and whether they adhered to the prescribed medical regimen by report. Patients were classified in an active disease category if recent imaging revealed a clinically significant stone burden greater than 3 mm. Statistical analysis of the number of surgical events for stone-free patients compliant with treatment versus noncompliant was conducted (Student's t test).

RESULTS: Of the 20 patients 11 were categorized as compliant and 9 as noncompliant. Of the compliant patients the average number of surgical events was 1.0 per patient versus 4.0 in the noncompliant group (p <0.05). Of the 11 compliant patients 8 (73%) were stone-free compared to 3 (33%) in the noncompliant group.

CONCLUSIONS: The majority of our patients with cystinuria compliant with treatment underwent a significantly fewer number of surgical procedures per year than those noncompliant with treatment. Active medical management in patients with cystinuria compliant with treatment decreases the incidence of surgical interventions.