Treatment of monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis by acupuncture: A preliminary study

Abstract

Objectives : This study was designed to clarify the clinical usefulness of acupuncture as a treatment option for monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis, and evaluate the mechanisms of its effect. Methods : Subjects comprised 15 patients (10 males, 5 females) with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis who were treated by acupuncture using a disposable stainless steel needle (0.3 mm in diameter, 60 mm in length) inserted into bilateral BL-33 (Zhongliao) points on the skin of the third posterior sacral foramina and rotated manually for 10 min reciprocally. Bladder capacities and number of wet nights per week were compared before and after treatment. Patients in whom wet nights decreased 50% or more compared with the baseline were considered responders. Results : Nocturnal enuresis improvement rates following acupuncture treatment were 40% (6/15) just after treatment and 47% (7/15) 2 months after. In 6 responders, just after treatment the nocturnal bladder capacity (NBC) increased significantly, from 201 mL to 334 mL ( P < 0.05). No side-effects were recognized throughout the treatment period. Conclusion : Acupuncture may be beneficial in the treatment of nocturnal enuresis by increasing NBC, and provide a promising alternative to conventional therapies for monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis.

Electroacupuncture Improves Voiding Function in Patients with Neurogenic Urinary Retention Secondary to Cauda Equina Injury: Results from a Prospective Observational Study

“…24 Acupuncture stimulation to the sacral segment reportedly increases bladder capacity, suppresses the overactive bladder, [25][26][27] invigorates GABAergic systems suppressing the activity of noradrenergic locus coeruleus neurons, 28 and inhibits capsaicin-sensitive C-fi bre activation. 29 In our study, given the fact that voiding ability was regained in patients with neurogenic urinary retention and that the therapeutic effectiveness generally continues for 6 months' follow-up, EA at the sacral level may stimulate the parasympathetic centre at the S2-S4 level and invigorate the acetylcholinergic fi bres innervating the bladder and therefore improving the balance of bladder function; however, further basic research is needed to explore these molecular level changes.…”

A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis of Using Acupuncture for the Treatment of Nocturnal Enuresis

“…Then, we reviewed full-text of selected articles and removed some other studies because their topics were not relevant to the subject. At last, remaining studies and trials were included in the systematic review (all of them were randomized clinical trial (RCT) except trial number 9 [9] and 10 [10] that were clinical trial beforeafter. The flow diagram of study selection is given in Figure 2.…”

“…We found only seven trials that fulfilled our inclusion criteria. All of the studies had a control group except two [9,10]. The Mean ages of participants in all studies were between 7 to 11 years old except in MOURSY [13] study which was 15 years old.…”

“…Nocturnal enuresis improvement rates were 40% just after the treatment and 47% two months after. They concluded that acupuncture may be useful in the treatment of nocturnal enuresis, and can be used an alternative therapy for NE [9].…”

Laser Acupuncture Treatment in Patients with Monosymptomatic Nocturnal Enuresis

“…Literatürde akupunktur ile MNE tedavisinin bildirilen başarı oranları farklıdır (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24). Çalışmamızda MNE'li hastalarda lazer akupunktur tedavisinin etkinliğinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır.…”