Enuresis in sickle cell disease

The prevalence of enuresis and management options for this condition were studied in our population of sickle cell patients. A total of 91 active patients (6 to 21 years old) followed at our regional sickle cell center was surveyed for the symptoms of primary nocturnal enuresis. Of the 91 patients 27 (29.6%) had primary nocturnal enuresis. Of those with enuresis 17 had homozygous sickle cell anemia, 5 had hemoglobin sickle cell disease, 4 had sickle cell beta + thalassemia and 1 had sickle cell beta zero-thalassemia. Of 10 patients who elected to receive intranasal desmopressin acetate 6 (60%) had complete or partial resolution of nocturnal enuresis. Our data confirm the high prevalence of nocturnal enuresis in patients with sickle cell disease and support the role of desmopressin acetate in the treatment of these patients.