Treatment of primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis with desmopressin:: predictive factors

Objective To investigate predictive factors for the outcome of treatment of primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE) with desmopressin. Patients and methods Data from a large open multicentre study were analysed. The study comprised 399 children with PMNE who were recruited for long-term desmopressin treatment. Before treatment a history was taken and the children observed for 4 weeks. After a 6-week dose-titration period with desmopressin, the children were classified into four groups depending on the response rate. Results The children who improved during desmopressin treatment were older, had fewer wet nights during the observation period and had only one wet episode during the night, mostly after midnight. Many of them did not require the maximum dose of desmopressin to become dry. No hereditary factor for the response to desmopressin was found. Conclusion Those most likely to be permanently dry with desmopressin treatment are older children who respond to 20 mug desmopressin and who do not wet frequently.