title: Ketamine-associated bladder dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of ketamine abuse on genitourinary tract dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven patients with urinary tract symptoms and a history of ketamine abuse in recent years were studied. Urinalysis, urine culture, renal function tests, abdominal sonography and urodynamic studies were done. Bladder biopsies were carried out in selected cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common complaints were lower urinary tract symptoms, including dysuria, frequency, urgency and gross hematuria. Urinalyses showed nonbacterial pyuria and were negative for tuberculosis. All biopsy specimens showed infiltrations of granulocytes (mostly eosinophils) and mast cells within the bladder tissue. Medications produced only slight clinical improvements. Intravesical instillation of hyaluronan solution was performed for some patients and a significant improvement of lower urinary tract symptoms was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the dosage and duration of ketamine abuse causing severe side-effects are still unclear, some patients develop irreversible histological changes in the urinary tract. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of the negative effects of ketamine abuse on genitourinary tract function.
authors: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Tsung-Hsun
authors: TH
authors: Tsai
authors: Tai-Lung
authors: TL
authors: Cha
authors: Chang-Min
authors: CM
authors: Lin
authors: Chih-Wei
authors: CW
authors: Tsao
authors: Shou-Hung
authors: SH
authors: Tang
authors: Feng-Pin
authors: FP
authors: Chuang
authors: Sheng-Tang
authors: ST
authors: Wu
authors: Guang-Huan
authors: GH
authors: Sun
authors: Dah-Shyong
authors: DS
authors: Yu
authors: Sun-Yran
authors: SY
authors: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007649:Ketamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007649:Ketamine