Persistent Nocturnal Enuresis in Adulthood Effectively Treated Using Kampo Medicine : A Case Report / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

Here, we report a case of nocturnal enuresis persisting into adulthood treated with Kampo medicine. A 21-year-old woman had a history of nocturnal enuresis every night during childhood and once every 2-3 nights during school age. Although the frequency of urinary incontinence decreased to 1-2 times/week at 19 years of age, nocturnal enuresis persisted into adulthood. She was diagnosed with mild strain of the rectus abdominis muscles and palpable abdominal aortic pulsation above the umbilicus, and keishikaryukotsuboreito (decoction) therapy was initiated. She did not experience urinary incontinence at night for 3 weeks, except for one episode immediately after treatment commencement. She tended to urinate only 4 times from the time she awoke until bedtime ; therefore, we added a small amount of goreisan to her treatment regimen to increase the urinary output and daytime frequency of urination. The frequency of urination increased from 4 to 7 times and stabilized. We discontinued goreisan administration 2 months later, and keishikaryukotsuboreito monotherapy was continued. We did not observe recurrent nocturnal enuresis and, therefore, switched the decoction to an extract. After the symptom stabilized, the dosage of keishikaryukotsuboreito was reduced by half. Nocturnal enuresis occurred only once when the patient missed a dose for 3 consecutive days but did not recur for over 4 months after strict adherence to medication. This case report highlights the role of Kampo therapy as an effective therapeutic option for nocturnal enuresis persisting into adulthood.