Combination Therapy Is Superior to Desmopressin Alone for Initial Treatment of Primary Enuresis

Primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE) in children older than 5 years is often treated with desmopressin with mixed results. Investigators in Korea retrospectively compared the effectiveness of desmopressin monotherapy to that of desmopressin plus propiverine for initial treatment in 98 children (72% boys; age range, 5–16 years) with PMNE. Children with constipation were excluded.

The mean number of wet nights in the combination therapy group decreased significantly, from 27.3 per month at baseline to 7.5/month at 1 month and 3.5/month at 3 months. The percent improvement (88%) was significant compared with that in the monotherapy group (78%, from 24.6/month at baseline to 10.3/month at 1 month and 4.6/month at 3 months). The 3-month success rate, defined as ≥90% response or complete response, was significantly higher in the combination therapy group (62% vs. 35%), as was the 3-month rate of complete response (35% vs. 22%). There were no adverse drug effects.