Sd. Eckford et al., DESMOPRESSIN IN THE TREATMENT OF NOCTURIA AND ENURESIS IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS, British Journal of Urology, 74(6), 1994, pp. 733-735
Objectives To assess whether the synthetic vasopressin analogue desmop
ressin [1-desamino 8-D-arginine vasopressin] is efficacious and safe i
n the management of nocturia+/-enuresis in patients with multiple scle
rosis. Patients and methods Twenty-two women and 11 men, under 65 year
s of age, with clinically definite multiple sclerosis and nocturnal fr
equency+/-enuresis were entered into the study. A two week placebo run
-in, to establish normal voiding patterns, followed by a double-blind,
placebo-controlled, cross-over study of 20 mu g intranasal desmopress
in at night-time was carried out. Results Desmopressin caused a signif
icant decrease in nocturnal urinary frequency, nocturnal urinary volum
e and the percentage of total daily urine passed at night, There was n
o significant fall in plasma sodium with desmopressin although there w
ere two cases of asymptomatic hyponatraemia. Conclusion Desmopressin i
s an efficacious and safe treatment for nocturia+/-enuresis in patient
s with multiple sclerosis.