Increased excretion of glycosaminoglycans in children with urinary incontinence compared to those with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the urinary excretion of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in patients with either urinary incontinence or nocturnal enuresis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population comprised 65 patients with either nocturnal enuresis (n=34) or urinary incontinence (n=31) and 67 controls. Excretion of urinary GAGs was assessed using the sodium tetraborate-carbazole method. RESULTS: GAG excretion in patients with urinary incontinence was significantly higher than that in controls (p<0.000129) and in children with nocturnal enuresis (p<0.016). There were no age or sex differences in GAG excretion in the three groups studied. CONCLUSION: Increased GAG excretion in patients with urinary incontinence suggests an association with urothelial/detrusor pathology.