Primary Nocturnal Enuresis: A Novel Therapeutic Strategy With Higher Efficacy

Abstract

Objective: To introduce a new protocol for patients with primary nocturnal enuresis to increase efficacy of treatment and decrease relapse rate.

Methods: A prospective study was done on 185 children diagnosed with nocturnal enuresis between the years 2007 and 2014. Inclusion criteria consisted of age >5 years, monosymptomatic enuresis or non-monosymptomatic enuresis, strict abidance by the protocol, and follow-up >24 months. Exclusion criteria consisted of secondary enuresis, poor compliance to protocol, and neurogenic bladder. Participants were started on combination therapy of desmopressin 120 µg (MELT formula) once per day and propiverine 7.5 mg twice per day, which were then adjusted as per their response to therapy and our designed protocol. Outcome was defined as per the International Children Continence Society (ICCS) latest definitions.

Results: One hundred twenty-two patients satisfied the inclusion criteria and were included in the study with a median age of 9 years (range 5-19 years). The mean follow-up time was 62 months (range 25-114 months). Our protocol showed an overall complete success of 87% with failure and relapse of 13%. The success rate of patients needing 120 µg desmopressin as maintenance therapy to achieve dryness was 92.7% as compared to 65% success in patients needing a higher dose of desmopressin to achieve dryness (P < .05). Age, gender, and type of primary nocturnal enuresis had no effect over success (all P > .05).

Conclusion: Adopting combination therapy along with structured withdrawal as per our protocol showed higher success rates and lower relapses in primary nocturnal enuretic children.