Original article Abnormalities in event-related potential and brainstem auditory evoked response in children with nocturnal enuresis q Akin Iscan a, * , Yasar Ozkul b , Dogan Unal c , Mustafa Soran d , Mahmut Kati e , Senay Bozlar b , Akif Himmet Karazeybek d a Department of Child Neurology, University of Dokuz Eylul, Mehmet Efe Sok Ozcelik B Sitesi 51/13 Balcova, Izmir, Turkey b Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Harran, Sanlıurfa, Turkey c Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Harran, Sanlıurfa, Turkey d Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Harran, Sanlıurfa, Turkey e Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Harran, Sanlıurfa, Turkey Received 18 January 2002; received in revised form 16 April 2002; accepted 13 May 2002 Abstract To evaluate central nervous system functioning involvement in nocturnal enuresis, P300 and N200 event-related brain potentials and brainstem auditory-evoked potentials (BAER) were assessed in a group of 35 enuretic boys aged 7–9 years. The measurements of enuretic group were compared to those of age and sex matched non-enuretics. P300 latency in the enuretic group was significantly longer than in non- enuretic group (420 ms at parietal scalp (Pz), 414 ms at central scalp (Cz) versus 386 ms at Pz, 376 ms at Cz; P , 0:01 and P , 0:01, respectively). Both enuretic and non-enuretic subjects were divided into three subgroups his age. There was no significant difference in terms of both P300 amplitude and N200 latency and N200 amplitude between non-enuretic age subgroups. But, P300 latency over central scalp in 8 years old non-enuretic subgroup was significantly longer than in 9 years old non-enuretic subgroup (P , 0:01). No significant difference was found in latency and amplitude of P300 and N200 latency between enuretic subgroups. However, N200 amplitude at Cz in 8 years old enuretic subgroup was significantly lower than both in 7 years old enuretic subgroup and in 9 years old enuretic subgroup (P , 0:01 and P , 0:01, respectively). There were significant topographical differences in latency and amplitude of P300 and in N200 latency in enuretic age subgroups, only. There was no significant difference in interpeak latencies I–III, I–V and III–V and wave latencies I, III and V of BAERs between enuretic group and non-enuretic subgroup. Longer interpeak and wave latencies of BAERs were found both in 8 years old enuretic subgroup and 8 years old non-enuretic subgroup. Conclusion: Longer P300 latency in primer enuretics compare to non-enuretics is an evidence of a maturational delay of central nervous system functioning. q 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: P300 latency; Enuresis nocturna 1. Introduction Nocturnal enuresis is frequently diagnosed among school children and an important psychosocial problem affecting millions of children and parents [1,2]. It is a familial condi- tion with complex inheritance patterns. The hypothesis that enuresis represents developmental delay or maturation lag in central nervous system develop- ment was well supported by a number of clinical observa- tions. A significantly higher proportion of bedwetting is observed in children who are also delayed in walking and talking, a significant number of children with primary enur- esis display retardation in skeletal maturation [3,4]. A maturational delay in electroencephalography (EEG) records central nervous system functions have also been reported enuretics [5]. Recently, an electrophysiological evidence of dismaturation in central nervous system func- tioning has been shown in nocturnal enuretics [6]. Nocturnal enuresis are merely an expression of neurophysiological immaturity and the achieving dryness is a sequential part of the child’s general development. Brain & Development 24 (2002) 681–687 0387-7604/02/$ - see front matter q 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII: S0387-7604(02)00077-3 www.elsevier.com/locate/braindev q The study was presented at Seventh Child Neurology Congress of Meditterrenian Countries, 30 May–1 Jun, 2001, Istanbul, Turkey. * Corresponding author. Tel.: 190-232-278-6379; fax: 190-232-278- 1128. E-mail address: akiniscan@hotmail.com (I. Akin).