Vesicoureteral reflux detected among patients with nocturnal enuresis

To clarify the characteristics of vesicoureteral reflux detected in patients with nocturnal enuresis.

Voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) was applied in 1,088 patients who visited our outpatient clinic with the chief complaint of nocturnal enuresis. The clinical features of reflux were evaluated and the prognosis of reflux and nocturnal enuresis was analyzed.

Reflux was detected in 86 ureters in 70 patients (6.4%) out of the 1,088 patients. The grade of reflux was 3 or less in all cases. The incidence of pyuria was 5 (7%) and that of renal scar during first examination was 1 (1%). The incidence of unstable bladder was 30 (75%) in 40 patients. The resolution rate of reflux in the cases which were followed-up for 2 years or more by conservative treatment was 50-66% for each grade of reflux. The percentage of patients who had siblings with a positive history of nocturnal enuresis and the incidence of frequency differed significantly between the enuretics with reflux and the 507 enuretics without urological abnormalities.

Our data suggest that the incidence of reflux in patients with nocturnal enuresis was rather low in comparison with the past literature, the severity was mild and the resolution rate by conservative treatment was rather high.