Ketamine is an anesthetic drug that has been used in clinical settings since the 1960s. Unfortunately, this medication has been abused as a recreational drug among partygoers and youth over the last 30 years.
Recently, a lot of evidence has shown the association between chronic ketamine abuse and urinary tract complications. However, not many are aware that chronic ketamine abuse may also be responsible for cholestasis and cholangitis. We report a case of urinary tract complication from chronic ketamine abuse in combination with cholestasis, cholangitis, and early liver cirrhosis related to the drug. Public awareness about ketamine abuse and its complications should be communicated. Physicians should have a high index of suspicion for ketamine abuse in someone presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms along with jaundice, abdominal pain, and abnormal liver function.
KEYWORDS: Ketamine abuse, cholestasis, cholangitis, liver cirrhosis, urinary tract complication
CORRESPONDENCE: Keat Seong Poh, BSc, MD, MRCSEd, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ( )
CITATION: UroToday Int J. 2012 October;5(5):art 51.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3834/uij.1944-5784.2012.10.10