Urinary excretion of glycosaminoglycans in patients with isolated nocturnal enuresis or combined with diurnal incontinence.
OBJECTIVE
To determine variations in the amount of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) excreted by patients with nocturnal enuresis and/or diurnal incontinence.


METHODS
The study included 27 patients (aged 5-15 years) with nocturnal enuresis and/or diurnal incontinence, and 27 healthy age-matched children. Their urinary GAG excretion was assessed over 24 h using the sodium tetraborate-carbazole method.


RESULTS
Patients with nocturnal enuresis and/or diurnal incontinence had higher mean values of urinary GAG excretion than age-matched controls. There were significant differences in GAG excretion between those with nocturnal enuresis and diurnal incontinence and those with nocturnal enuresis alone.


CONCLUSIONS
GAG excretion in patients with nocturnal enuresis and/or diurnal incontinence was significantly higher than in normal children, suggesting that measuring urinary GAGs may be useful in evaluating physiopathological conditions of the bladder wall, and hence in monitoring potential damage in the bladder mucosa.
Ferrara
P
P
Department of Paediatrics, Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. pietro.ferrara@mailcity.com
Rigante
D
D
Lambert-Gardini
S
S
Salvaggio
E
E
Ricci
R
R
Chiozza
M L
ML
Antuzzi
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004775:Enuresis / Q000150:complications / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000150:complications / Q000652:urine*
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans