Sleep of children with enuresis: A polysomnographic study

Objective. To evaluate relationships between bladder voiding and sleep in c hildren with enuresis. Methods. Polysomnographic recordings were obtained from 25 children, aged 7 to 17 years, with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis. During 52 recorded n ights, 37 enuretic events were detected. Responders (n = 7) and nonresponde rs (n = 16) to desmopressin treatment were compared. Results. The mean latency between sleep onset and the first bladder voiding was 3 hours 20 minutes (SD = 2 hours 5 minutes). The number of voidings we re 19, 7,10, and I occurring during stages 2, 3, and 4, and rapid-eye movem ent sleep, respectively. Desmopressin responders were found to void during the early or late part of the night, whereas the voidings of the nonrespond ers were dispersed evenly throughout the night (chi(2) = 8.09). Conclusions. The enuretic event is a predominantly non-rapid eye movement s leep phenomenon. Responders and nonresponders to desmopressin treatment voi d during different parts of the night.