DNA damage in children treated with imipramine for primary nocturnal enuresis.
BACKGROUND
Despite the fact that primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) is self-limited and pathologically benign, the emotional stress and inconvenience that it produces, warrants treatment. Imipramine is one of the widely used drugs in PNE treatment. Although some mutagenic effects were suggested in imipramine administration, this toxicity has never been investigated in enuretic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of exposure to imipramine with DNA damage.


METHODS
Thirty-five children treated with imipramine for at least 4.5 months who were in otherwise good health were accepted into the investigation. Twenty healthy sisters or brothers of the patients who did not use any long-term drugs were studied simultaneously as the control group. Comet assay was used to evaluate DNA damage.


RESULTS
Damaged (limited and extensive migrated) cells of the enuretic children who were taking imipramine were statically higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05) indicating a detectable DNA damaging effect of imipramine in human lymphocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
Our finding suggests that the difference in comet scores between two groups was induced by the imipramine treatment. The other possibility to be considered is the psychological stress of the children who were concerned by the symptoms and their parent's anxiety. As our preliminary data were based on a limited number of children, further research is needed considering the importance of this possible toxic effects which may be associated with mutagenicity.
Dündaröz
Ruşen
R
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. rusenmd@excite.com
Türkbay
Tümer
T
Sürer
Ilhami
I
Gök
Faysal
F
Denli
Metin
M
Baltaci
Volkan
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D020552:Comet Assay; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004775:Enuresis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014421:Turkey
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D004247:DNA; D007099:Imipramine