Enuresis and Urine Concentration in Healthy Preschool Children

Ha, Dal Bong; Kim, Kwang Sae

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine if the urine specific gravity(SG) plays a role in enuresis, the first morning urine SG of the healthy preschool nocturnal enuretic was compared with that of the nonenuretic. The results of desmopressin were analyzed according to the pretreatment urine SG to know if the urine SG can predict the responsiveness of the medication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred twenty healthy preschool children aged 3-6 years were entered in this prospective observer-blinded study. A comparison was made between SG of the first morning urine specimen and results of questionnaire concerning the bed wetting and voiding habits of children. The responsiveness to oral desmopressin(0.2-0.4mg h.s.) in 14-day treatment periods was also analyzed according to the urine SG in 28 children with enuresis. The responder group was defined as a reduction of at least 50% from the number of wet night. RESULTS: The incidence of enuresis was 8.6 percent. Stastistically significant difference was found between the bedwetter and nonbedwetter group with regard to the urine SG(p<0.05). The overall response rate of desmopressin was 68 percent. There was no significant difference between the responder and nonresponder group with respect to urine SG. CONCLUSIONS: The first morning urine of the enuretic showed higher probability of lower level of the SG than that of the nonenuretic. Treatment with desmopressin was associated with a significant decrease in the number of wet night, but clinical response was not predictable based on the first morning urine SG.