Focus on desmopressin and enuresis: a review of literature

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Pharmacology
• Urology

Background:

• Nocturnal enuresis (NE) is a prevalent condition affecting children.
• Treatment selection for NE is individualized based on symptom severity, age, and motivation.
• Established treatments include alarms, desmopressin, and imipramine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the therapeutic effects and formulations of desmopressin for nocturnal enuresis.
• To highlight the advantages of the oral lyophilisate (MELT) formulation.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of desmopressin formulations and their efficacy in treating NE.
• Analysis of desmopressin's antidiuretic mechanism of action.

Main Results:

• Desmopressin's primary therapeutic effect is its antidiuretic activity.
• Various desmopressin formulations exist: injectable, oral tablet, and oral lyophilisate (MELT).
• The MELT formulation demonstrates higher bioavailability, enabling effective treatment with lower doses.

Conclusions:

• Desmopressin MELT is a safe and effective first-line treatment for nocturnal enuresis.
• Its improved bioavailability ensures comparable therapeutic responses to other formulations at reduced dosages.