title: Ketamine Abuse Syndrome: Hepatobiliary and Urinary Pathology Among Adolescents in Flushing, NY.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ketamine is a recreational drug widely abused in East Asia and also in certain subpopulations of the United States. Many US clinicians are unaware of abuse symptoms, leading to misdiagnosis and missed opportunities for intervention. We will discuss clinical patterns that should alert a clinician to the possibility of ketamine abuse.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present 6 adolescent patients who presented to the pediatric emergency department and inpatient wards with urinary and hepatobiliary symptoms in the setting of ketamine abuse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 6 patients with confirmed ketamine abuse who presented with epigastric pain or urinary pain. All had laboratory and radiographic evidence of disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ketamine abuse is associated with a distinctive pattern of symptoms involving the urinary and hepatobiliary systems.
authors.affiliation: From the *New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York; and †New York Hospital Queens, Flushing, NY.
authors.forename: Jessica W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Violetta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kivovich
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000139:chemically induced; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001213:Asian; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D007649:Ketamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013577:Syndrome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007649:Ketamine