Urinary nerve growth factor can predict therapeutic efficacy in children with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis

Neurourol Urodyn. 2019 Nov;38(8):2311-2317. doi: 10.1002/nau.24142. Epub 2019 Aug 20.

Abstract

Aim: To determine the urinary levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in children with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (MNE) and evaluate whether these factors can be used as biomarkers for the treatment outcome.

Methods: NGF and BDNF levels were measured and compared in 38 children (28 boys and 10 girls) with MNE and 25 children (18 boys and 7 girls) with no urinary symptoms were assessed. The mean ages in the patient and control groups were 9 and 10 years, respectively (P = .49). The patients were treated with either alarm or desmopressin therapy.

Results: The urinary NGF/creatinine and BDNF/creatinine ratios were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (P = .0003 and P = .0095, respectively). NGF and BDNF levels showed a significant positive correlation (P = .0020, r = 0.40). With respect to the degree of response, 19 patients (50%) showed complete response (CR) or partial response (PR), and 19 patients (50%) showed nonresponse (NR). The urinary NGF/creatinine and BDNF/creatinine ratios were significantly higher in the NR group than in the CR and PR groups (P = .0003 and P = .0003, respectively).

Conclusions: Urinary NGF/creatinine and BDNF/creatinine ratios were significantly higher in children with MNE than in healthy controls. Urinary NGF/creatinine can be predictive factors of a poor treatment outcome in children with MNE.

Keywords: BDNF; NGF; biomarker; monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / urine
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / urine
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Creatinine / urine
  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nerve Growth Factor / urine*
  • Nocturnal Enuresis / drug therapy
  • Nocturnal Enuresis / therapy*
  • Nocturnal Enuresis / urine*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • NGF protein, human
  • BDNF protein, human
  • Nerve Growth Factor
  • Creatinine
  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin