Related Experiment Videos
Desmopressin in nocturnal enuresis
Insights
Desamino-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) significantly reduced bedwetting in children. The treatment was most effective in children over 10 years old and showed no adverse effects.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Nocturnal enuresis, or bedwetting, affects many children.
- Desamino-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) is a synthetic analog of vasopressin.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of DDAVP in treating nocturnal enuresis in children.
- To determine if DDAVP's effectiveness varies with age.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind clinical study was conducted on 32 children with enuresis.
- Children received either DDAVP or a placebo (details of placebo group not provided in abstract).
- Data collected included frequency of wet nights and urine osmolality.
Main Results:
- DDAVP treatment significantly reduced wet nights from 18.7 to 6.5 per 30 days.
- Complete cessation of bedwetting occurred in 6 children, with satisfactory response in another 6.
- Older children (over 10 years) showed a significantly better response to DDAVP.
Conclusions:
- DDAVP is an effective treatment for nocturnal enuresis, especially in older children.
- The positive effects of DDAVP may involve mechanisms beyond its antidiuretic properties.
- No adverse effects were observed during the study.
Abstract:
The response of desamino-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) was investigated in 32 enuretic children in a double-blind clinical study. The 15 children treated with DDAVP showed a significant reduction in the incidence of bed wetting--from 18.7 +/- 6.5 to 6.5 +/- 9.2 wet nights per 30 days. In 6 children bed wetting stopped entirely, in 6 there was a satisfactory response, and in 3 the response was marginal or there was none. When DDAVP was stopped most children reverted to their earlier bedwetting habits (15.7 +/- 8.9 nights a month). Response to DDAVP was significantly better in children aged more than 10 years (mean age for the entire group). The administration of DDAVP was not associated with any appreciable change in morning urine osmolalities. No adverse effects were noted. It is concluded that DDAVP is effective in nocturnal enuresis, particularly in older children. It is suggested that the cessation of bed wetting may, in part, reflect functional properties of DDAVP rather than antidiuresis.