Long-term treatment with desmopressin in children with primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis: an open multicentre study. Swedish Enuresis Trial (SWEET) Group.
OBJECTIVE
To study the long-term efficacy and safety of desmopressin treatment in children with primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis.


METHODS
Children (aged 6-12 years) with nocturnal enuresis were recruited into an open multicentre trial. All children underwent an observation period of 4 weeks before starting a 6-week dose-titration period with desmopressin. If the number of wet nights decreased by more than half during medication, they began long-term treatment on 20-40 microg desmopressin. To test for cure and avoid overtreatment, the medication was interrupted for one week every third month.


RESULTS
Of the 399 children forming the intention-to-treat cohort, 245 halved their number of wet nights and started long-term treatment. During the periods off medication, 77 children were dry and at the end of the study another 73 (still on medication) reduced the number of wet nights to < or =10% of that during the observation period. A further 51 children halved the number of wet nights compared with the observation period. No serious adverse events occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term treatment with nasal desmopressin at a main dose of 40 microg is an effective and safe treatment for monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis.
Hjälmås
K
K
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/East, Göteborg, Sweden.
Hanson
E
E
Hellström
A L
AL
Kruse
S
S
Sillén
U
U
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D002648:Child; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004775:Enuresis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D012076:Renal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D012076:Renal Agents; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin