Future Directions in the Treatment of Nocturia

by | Sep 2018

Matt T. Rosenberg, MD, presents the thesis of his lecture “Future Directions in the Treatment of Nocturia” during the 19th Annual Future Directions in Urology Symposium on August 11, 2018 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

How to cite: Rosenberg, Matt T. “Future Directions in the Treatment of Nocturia” August 11, 2018. Accessed [date today]. https://dev.grandroundsinurology.com/Future-Directions-in-the-Treatment-of-Nocturia

You can also view Dr. Rosenberg’s full presentation, “Nocturia: Symptom or Disease?

Future Directions in the Treatment of Nocturia – Summary

Matt T. Rosenberg, MD, reviews treatment options for nocturia, such as patient counseling, medications, and newly available molecules that can safely control urine excretion from the kidneys. He also discusses quality of life burden nocturia poses on patients, as well as differentiating between nocturia and nocturnal polyuria.

Nocturia Versus Nocturnal Polyuria

Urologists define clinically relevant nocturia as waking two or more times a night to void. An enlarged prostate obstructing urine flow, overactive bladder, as well as sleep disorders are factors that could cause nocturia. Nocturnal polyuria is the overproduction of urine during the night.

The Effect of Nocturia on Everyday Life

Loss of sleep due to nocturia inhibits a patient’s work productivity, social life, and overall health. A patient waking in the first four hours of sleep especially exacerbates these symptoms.

Nocturia Management Options

The main goal of physicians treating nocturia is to decrease the urine volume going into the bladder during the night. Physicians should initially consider counseling patients on behavioral modifications and considering the diuretic effects of the patient’s current medications when treating nocturia.

Management of Kidney Urine Production

In some cases, nocturia can be a result of kidney dysfunction. Previous treatments for nocturia had the side effect of hyponatremia, which can increase intravascular volume. Therefore, this could put patients with congestive failure at risk.

Fortunately, the newly available versions of desmopressin  are short acting, with a four to six hour half-life, and require a low dose, decreasing the risk of severe hyponatremia. These molecules affect the distal and collecting ducts in order to slow the excretion of urine in the bladder.

About Dr. Rosenberg

Dr. Rosenberg is a family medicine physician in Jackson, Michigan. Due to his background in family medicine, he has much experience in treating patients with nocturia.

About the Future Directions in Urology Symposium

The Future Directions in Urology Symposium (FDUS) is an annual collaborative meeting with a faculty consisting of the top researchers, physicians, and educators in the field of urology. During FDUS, experts provide updates on recent developments and debate innovative management approaches in genitourinary cancers and urologic conditions. Subsequently, the experts devise consensus statements in accordance with the discussions held in the meeting.

In this video, Dr. Rosenberg discloses the thesis of the discussion he led during FDUS.