RENAL FUNCTIONS OF ENURETIC AND NONENURETIC CHILDREN - HYPERNATRIURIAAND KALIURESIS AS CAUSES OF NOCTURNAL ENURESIS

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the pathophysiolog ic cause(s) of primary nocturnal enuresis. Therefore, electrolyte conc entrations of urine specimens were evaluated in the morning, and alter ations compared between enuretics and nonenuretics. Methods and Patien ts: First morning urine specimens of 27 enuretics and 21 nonenuretic s ubjects fed the same diet were collected, and urinary electrolytes wer e measured. The urinary Ca/Cr ratio, tubular reabsorption of phosphoru s (TRP) and fractional sodium (FE Na%) and potassium excretions (FE K% ) were determined for patients and controls. Results: There was no sig nificant difference in the Ca/Cr ratio and TRP between patients and co ntrols, but enuretic patients had significantly higher FE Na% and FE K % values than controls (p < 0.001). There were significant positive co rrelations between FE Na% and (r = 0.81, p < 0.001) FE K% and the freq uency of bedwetting, respectively, among enuretic patients (r = 0.54, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Since Na and K excretion of enuretic patients was higher than in nonenuretics, it can be concluded that there may be a benign hereditary and/or postural renal tubular handling disorder o f Na and K in enuretic children.