title: Primary nocturnal enuresis: a comparison among observation, imipramine, desmopressin acetate and bed-wetting alarm systems.
abstract: Patients with primary nocturnal enuresis were entered into 4 treatment groups: observation, imipramine, desmopressin acetate or alarm therapy. Patients were weaned from therapy 6 months after inclusion in the study and were evaluated for continence at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after beginning the study protocol. Of the 50 patients under observation 6% were continent at 6 months and 16% were continent within 12 months. Of 44 patients treated with imipramine 36% were continent at 6 months on medication; however, only 16% were continent at 12 months, off medication. Similarly, of the 88 patients treated with desmopressin acetate 68% were continent at 6 months but only 10% were continent at 12 months. Of the 79 patients treated with alarm therapy 63% were continent at 6 months and 56% were dry at 12 months. Although each form of therapy improved continence over observation alone (p < 0.01), only the bed-wetting alarm system demonstrated persistent effectiveness (p < 0.001).
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Monda
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Husmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004775:Enuresis / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin; D007099:Imipramine