Desmopressin acetate in children with severe primary nocturnal enuresis

Desmopressin acetate, a synthetic antidiuretic drug, was evaluated in two US multicenter studies involving a total of 176 children with severe primary nocturnal enuresis. Patients who qualified during the screening period, entered a double-blind treatment phase during which they received 20 micrograms or 40 micrograms of desmopressin acetate or placebo at bedtime for four weeks. This phase was followed by a four-week open-label period, during which all patients received 20 or 40 micrograms of desmopressin acetate. In both studies, children given desmopressin acetate had significantly fewer wet nights after two and four weeks of therapy than did children given placebo. During the open-label period, patients crossed over from placebo to desmopressin acetate showed similar reductions in enuresis. Global evaluations by the patients, their parents, or the investigators further confirmed the good results with desmopressin acetate. No serious adverse experiences were reported. Thus the results of these studies corroborate previously published reports of the efficacy and safety of desmopressin acetate in the treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis.