Classification based on overnight simultaneous monitoring by electroencephalography and cystometry.

Objectives: To evaluate the features of the clinical findings in three types (types I, IIa, IIb) of enuresis, classified by overnight simultaneous monitoring by electroencephalography (EEG) and cystometry (CM).

Methods: We performed a test to evaluate bladder capacity, arousal response and the pattern of nighttime urination in sucklings and infants.

Results: As for the values of enuretic bladder capacity (EBC), the smallest were found in enuresis type IIb. As for arousal response, enuresis type I showed the best, while enuresis type IIa showed the worst response. With regard to the pattern of nighttime urination in sucklings and infants, all sucklings had a stable bladder in the sleep state and urinated in the pattern of type IIa. The arousal response to bladder distention indicating type I appeared at the age of about 2 or 3.

Conclusions: The smallest EBC in patients with enuresis type IIb represented a bladder dysfunction in the sleep period. It was observed that patients with enuresis type I had the best arousal function while those with enuresis type IIa had the worst arousal function. All sucklings urinated unconsciously during sleep in the pattern of type IIa. The arousal response to bladder distention indicating type I, which was not observed below the age of 1 year, was thought to appear at the age of about 2 or 3 years. If this change has not appeared by the age of 3, bed-wetting might persist after the age of 5.