Clinical efficacy observation of Tongdu Wenyong acupuncture for children with nocturnal enuresis

Li Yancai; Bao Chao; Chen Dong; Li Jianbing; Wang Nan; Tu Luting; Yuan Mengqian

doi:10.11986/j.issn.1673-873X.2025.04.13

Abstract：Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Tongdu Wenyong(Unblocking the Governor Vessel and Warming Yang)acupuncture for children with nocturnal enuresis(NE),aiming to provide references for clinical treatment.Methods Eighty pediatric patients with NE admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from January 2022 to January 2024 were selected.Using random number assignment,children were allocated to Group A(n=40)receiving conventional treatment and Group B(n=40)receiving additional Tongdu Wenyong acupuncture.Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)symptom scores,urine flow rate,bladder capacity,residual urine volume,and antidiuretic hormone(ADH)levels were compared before treatment and at 4 weeks of treatment.Clinical efficacy at 4 weeks,adverse reactions during treatment,and short-term prognosis(recurrence rate at the 3-month follow-up)were compared.Results Before treatment,no significant differences existed in primary symptom scores,secondary symptom scores,or total TCM symptom scores between groups(P>0.05);after treatment,all symptom scores decreased in both groups compared to pre-treatment levels,with Group B showing significantly lower scores than Group A(P<0.05).The overall response rate was significantly higher in Group B than in Group A(P<0.05).Before treatment,no significant differences were noted in urine flow rate,bladder capacity,or residual urine volume between groups(P>0.05);after treatment,urine flow rate and bladder capacity increased in both groups compared to pre-treatment levels,with Group B showing significantly higher values than Group A(P<0.05);residual urine volume decreased in both groups compared to pre-treatment levels,with Group B showing significantly lower values than Group A(P<0.05).Before treatment,no significant difference was observed in ADH levels between groups(P>0.05);af-ter treatment,ADH levels increased in both groups compared to pre-treatment levels,with Group B showing significantly higher levels than Group A(P<0.05).No significant difference was noted in adverse reaction rates between groups(P>0.05).At 3-month follow-up,the recurrence rate was significantly lower in Group B than in Group A(P<0.05).Conclusion Tongdu Wenyong acupuncture demonstrates definite efficacy for pediatric children with NE,ameliorating clinical symptoms,enhancing bladder function and serum ADH levels,with favorable short-term prognosis and acceptable safety profiles.