Therapeutic Effects of Oral Desmopressin for Men with Nocturia and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): a Preliminary Clinical Trial

Nocturia commonly seen with aging may result from several conditions of which benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and loss of nighttime vasopressin production (or release) are very common causes. The relief of obstructive symptoms of BPH without addressing the nocturnal polyuria may result in disappointing clinical results. A total of adult men (mean age: 62+ /- 2.5 years old) with BPH and bothering nocturia (> or = 2voids / night) were treated with oral desmopressin at bedtime. Exclusion criteria included active urinay tract infection, history of myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, angina and hyponatremia. Patients received desmopressin tablets (0.1,0.2,or 0.4mg) during a 3 – wk dose titration period and after 1- wk washout period the effective drug dose continued for 6 to 8 – wk. Positive Clinical response defined as > or =50% decrease in nocturnal voiding episodes. All intervened patients improved with such a treatment. The average of symptoms duration was 3.45 +/- 0.62 years. Nocturia episodes decreased from a mean of 4 +/- 0.36 episodes/ night before treatment to1.17 +/- 0.28 episodes/ night after therapy (p< 0.0001). I-PSS decreased from 16.9 +/- 1.16 before treatment to10.47 +/- 0.98 after therapy (p< 0.0001). Serum sodium levels changes were significant (p= 0.02), but hyponatremia did not occur. Also, there was a correlation between age and nocturia episodes (p< 0.0001, r = 0.744. Oral desmopressin tablets provide an effective and well tolerated treatment for nocturia due to BPH and cause significant reduction in nocturia episodes; I-PSS measures serum sodium levels with limited side effects.