Spina Bifida Occulta in Persistent Primary Nocturnal Enuresis

Background/ Of congenital malformations of the central nervous system 46% are abnormalities of the spinal cord, which includes spina bifida occulta (SBO). The occurrence and significance of spina bifida occulta in patients with persistent primary nocturnal enuresis (PPNE) were evaluated. Between January 2000 and February 2001, 109 consecutive children who had nocturnal enuresis more than once a week after the age of 7 years for an uninterrupted period of at least 3 months, with less than 50% reduction in wet nights despite different treatments for at least 6 months, were prospectively evaluated for the presence of associated spina bifida occulta. The results were com-pared with data from a group of 40 normal children. The mean age was 9.9 years in PPNE patients and 7.5 years in normal group. SBO was present in 86 (78.9%) of PPNE patients and 10 (25%) of normal children. This difference was statistically significant using chi-square test. (P-value < 0.001) Spina bifida occulta was thought to have no clinical significance but our results showed its significant higher rate among PPNE patients. There is no direct causal relation between spina bifida occulta and enuresis, apparently, but the findings suggest a common developmental etiology.