[Nocturia--an often misjudged problem]

Nocturia--waking up during the night due to the urge to urinate and empty the bladder--is a serious problem for affected patients. In the past decades, nocturia has been primarily regarded as an irritative symptom of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). This symptom is however frequently not influenced by different BPH treatments. In the last couple of years one has come to the conclusion that the prostate is less involved and in part responsible for the symptoms since women are also frequently affected. For these reasons nocturia is looked at differently. It is a highly prevalent symptom which neither qualitatively nor quantitative differs between men and women. Many factors lead to nocturia. The following diseases are involved: coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus or insipidus, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), states of anxiety or insomnia as well as behavioural and environmental factors. Nocturia can be categorised in nocturnal polyuria (overproduction of nightly urine) or a diminished bladder capacity or a combination of both. These entities can be easily differentiated by arithmetic analysis, e.g., a 48-hour voiding diary. Only recently nocturia has been classified according to the aetiology and pathogenesis, making a differentiated treatment possible. However, even in the cases in which the underlying cause cannot be found behavioural changes can help. Nevertheless, pharmacological treatments are inevitable. Medical treatments include: desmopressin, anticholinergics and antimuscarinics, general-medical measures like support stockings, different time for the intake of diuretics or in specific cases the nasal CPAP artificial respiration (continuous positive airway pressure). In spite of the partly high effectiveness of these measures, treatment should be customised taking possible side effects in account.