Ketamine-Associated Ulcerative Cystitis: A Case Report and Literature Review

| Posted in: Science

Journal name: The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
Original article title: Ketamine-Associated Ulcerative Cystitis: A Case Report and Literature Review
The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences (MJMS) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal published online at least six times a year. It covers all aspects of medical sciences and prioritizes high-quality research.
This page presents a generated summary with additional references; See source (below) for actual content.

Original source:

This page is merely a summary which is automatically generated hence you should visit the source to read the original article which includes the author, publication date, notes and references.

Author:

Christopher Chee Kong Ho, Hafez Pezhman, Singam Praveen, Eng Hong Goh, Boon Cheok Lee, Md Zainuddin Zulkifli, Mohamed Rose Isa


The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences:

(A peer-reviewed, open-access journal)

Full text available for: Ketamine-Associated Ulcerative Cystitis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Year: 2010

Copyright (license): CC BY 4.0


Download the PDF file of the original publication


Summary of article contents:

Introduction

Ketamine, originally developed as an anesthetic, has been increasingly abused as a recreational drug since the 1980s. Recent observations have identified a new clinical condition known as ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis, which presents with lower urinary tract symptoms in chronic users, particularly among younger people. Despite its emergence and documented cases, many healthcare professionals remain unaware of its existence, posing challenges for diagnosis and management. This article presents a case of a 21-year-old man suffering from this condition, highlighting the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options as they relate to ketamine use.

Ketamine-Associated Ulcerative Cystitis

The case report details the experiences of a patient who presented with frequent urination, suprapubic pain, and microscopic hematuria following a period of ketamine consumption. Diagnostic imaging revealed hydronephrosis and a non-functioning right kidney, alongside cystoscopic findings of an inflamed bladder mucosa with superficial ulcers. Biopsy results indicated changes consistent with severe cystitis, including significant inflammatory cell infiltration. The proposed mechanisms for this condition range from direct toxicity of ketamine on bladder cells to autoimmune responses or microvascular injuries within the urinary system. Importantly, cessation of ketamine use led to significant symptom resolution, underscoring the necessity of recognizing and addressing this emerging health concern.

Conclusion

Ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis represents a growing public health issue in light of increased recreational ketamine use. The clinical presentation can often be mistaken for other urinary tract conditions, making a detailed patient history of substance use crucial for accurate diagnosis. As the awareness of this condition rises, clinicians are encouraged to consider ketamine abuse as a potential cause of lower urinary tract symptoms, especially in younger patients. Timely intervention through the cessation of ketamine may reverse symptoms and prevent further complications, highlighting the urgent need for better education and understanding of the implications of ketamine abuse in the healthcare community.

FAQ section (important questions/answers):

What is ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis?

Ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis is a condition characterized by lower urinary tract symptoms due to chronic ketamine abuse. It presents with symptoms like frequent urination, nocturia, and suprapubic pain, often misdiagnosed due to lack of awareness among healthcare professionals.

What symptoms are associated with ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis?

Common symptoms include frequent urination, urgency, dysuria, nocturia, and painful haematuria. Cystoscopic examinations may reveal inflammatory changes, neovascularization, and ulceration in the bladder, alongside a small bladder capacity with thickened walls.

How is the diagnosis of ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis made?

Diagnosis typically involves a thorough medical history focusing on ketamine use, urine analysis, imaging studies revealing hydronephrosis, and cystoscopic findings like inflamed mucosa and ulcers, along with bladder biopsy showing chronic cystitis features.

What treatment options are available for this condition?

The primary treatment is cessation of ketamine use, often leading to symptom resolution. In severe cases, urinary stenting or surgical interventions may be required for bladder repair, and medications like pentosan polysulphate may help manage symptoms.

Glossary definitions and references:

Scientific and Ayurvedic Glossary list for “Ketamine-Associated Ulcerative Cystitis: A Case Report and Literature Review”. This list explains important keywords that occur in this article and links it to the glossary for a better understanding of that concept in the context of Ayurveda and other topics.

1) Drug:
Ketamine is a drug with anesthetic properties, initially used in clinical settings but has been increasingly misused as a recreational substance. This misuse has led to adverse health effects, including ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis, highlighting the critical need for awareness regarding recreational drug abuse and its consequences on health.

2) Disease:
Ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis is a novel clinical entity resulting from chronic ketamine abuse. It represents an emerging disease characterized by severe lower urinary tract symptoms. Increased recognition of this disease is essential for timely diagnosis and management, especially among young people who may be unaware of ketamine’s detrimental effects.

3) Pain (Paiṇ):
Patients suffering from ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis often experience suprapubic pain. This pain is likely linked to bladder ischemia and structural damage caused by ketamine. Understanding the pain mechanism is vital for effective management and treatment, which may include cessation of drug use and therapeutic interventions aimed at symptom relief.

4) Post:
The term 'post' refers to the post-voiding pyelogram results that indicate vesicoureteric reflux and hydronephrosis. This imaging technique is essential for evaluating those with urinary symptoms, linking structural abnormalities to the potential damage caused by ketamine use and emphasizing the importance of imaging in diagnosing complications.

5) Collecting:
The collecting system in the kidney refers to the structures responsible for transporting urine. In cases of ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis, the imaging showed significant changes in the collecting system, indicating possible dysfunction. This highlights the need for comprehensive assessments of urinary anatomy in affected patients.

6) Powder:
Ketamine is often abused in powder form, snorted for its psychoactive effects. This route of administration is common among recreational users but carries risks of urinary damage. Understanding the common forms of drug abuse is crucial for clinicians to identify and manage associated complications effectively.

7) Wall:
The bladder wall is affected in ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis, with findings of irregular wall thickening and inflammation. The condition underscores the importance of examining bladder morphology in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms and considering the structural impact of substance abuse on the urinary system.

8) Tuberculosis:
The initial workup for urinary symptoms included testing for tuberculosis due to overlapping symptoms, such as haematuria. The exclusion of tuberculosis is crucial, as it may lead to misdiagnosis. This emphasizes the importance of thorough differential diagnosis in new clinical entities linked to substance abuse.

9) Irritation:
Lower urinary tract irritation is a hallmark of ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis, manifesting as symptoms like frequency, urgency, and painful urination. Recognizing these irritative symptoms is fundamental for diagnosing this condition, facilitating appropriate clinical intervention, and educating patients about the risks associated with ketamine use.

10) Antibiotic (Antibacterial):
Antibiotic treatment was administered following the cessation of ketamine use, reflecting a common practice in managing urinary tract symptoms. While antibiotics address possible infections, the focus must also be on reversing damage due to ketamine, highlighting the need for integrated therapeutic approaches in affected patients.

11) Activity:
Normal bladder activity is often compromised in patients with ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis due to structural and functional changes. Ceasing ketamine can restore bladder function, indicating the drug's toxicity and emphasizing the necessity for awareness and early cessation among users experiencing urinary symptoms.

12) Nostril:
Inhalation of ketamine often occurs through the nostril, a method favored by many recreational users. This route of administration contributes to immediate effects but is linked to significant urinary tract damage. Understanding this method is vital for healthcare providers aiming to educate users about potential health risks.

13) Filling (Filled):
Bladder filling can provoke or exacerbate symptoms in patients with ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis. Understanding how bladder dynamics interact with this condition is crucial for developing treatment strategies that alleviate discomfort and improve bladder capacity post ketamine cessation.

14) Edema (Oedema):
Oedema refers to swelling, which may occur in the bladder or ureteric areas due to inflammation and irritation from ketamine use. Identifying oedema as a consequence of drug abuse can aid clinicians in understanding the extent of organ damage and formulating appropriate management strategies.

15) Street:
The term 'street' is relevant in discussing 'street ketamine', which refers to illicit, recreational use of the substance. Awareness of this term helps healthcare professionals recognize patterns of substance abuse and the potential for ketamine-associated complications, facilitating timely intervention and patient education.

16) Ulcer:
Ulceration of the bladder mucosa is a significant finding in ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis. Understanding the association between ulcer formation and drug abuse is crucial for diagnosing the condition, indicating the severity of bladder damage, and informing treatment pathways to promote healing and restore bladder function.

17) Field:
The term 'field' in urine analysis refers to high powered fields observed under a microscope, indicating microscopic haematuria in the patient. Recognizing these findings is paramount in identifying possible urinary tract issues, including those arising from substance abuse, guiding further investigation and management.

18) Fever:
The absence of fever in patients with ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis is notable. Fever typically suggests infection, but its absence reinforces the non-infectious nature of this condition, emphasizing the need for awareness and appropriate evaluation in patients with urinary symptoms associated with drug use.

19) Blood:
Blood in the urine (haematuria) is a common symptom of ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis. Understanding the implications of blood presence can help healthcare providers identify this condition in patients, distinguishing it from other urinary tract disorders and guiding the clinical approach to management and patient care.

20) Study (Studying):
The study of ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis is crucial in understanding the urinary complications arising from chronic drug abuse. Increasing awareness among healthcare providers and the public can lead to better recognition, timely diagnosis, and appropriate management of this emerging clinical entity.

21) Craving (Crave, Craved):
The craving for ketamine is a driving factor in its recreational abuse, leading to serious adverse health effects. Understanding the psychological incentives behind drug use can inform prevention strategies and emphasize the need for education and intervention targeting young adults at risk of addiction.

22) Mast:
Mast cells are present in the bladder tissue of patients with ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis, suggesting an inflammatory response. Recognizing the role of mast cell infiltration helps healthcare professionals understand the underlying pathological processes and aids in developing targeted therapies to alleviate symptoms and promote healing.

Other Science Concepts:

[back to top]

Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘Ketamine-Associated Ulcerative Cystitis: A Case Report and Literature Review’. Further sources in the context of Science might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:

Antibiotic, Medical science, Healthcare system, Central nervous system, Dysuria, Young people, Respiratory system, Urinary system, Antibiotic treatment, Case report, Dysuria and fever, Urinary tract, Inflammatory changes, Cardiovascular system, Pathophysiology, Glomerular Filtration Rate, Clinical entity, Chronic cystitis, Urine analysis, Obstructive uropathy, Eosinophil, Urinary tract infection, Renal function, Serum urea, Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, Psychotropic effect, Nocturia, Renal function test, Frequent urination, Cystitis, Neovascularisation, Autoimmune reaction, Suprapubic Pain, Urine culture, Renal Profile, Radiological investigation, Hydronephrosis, Microscopic haematuria, Lower Urinary Tract, Bladder dysfunction, Renal impairment, General anaesthesia, Red Blood Cell, Augmentation cystoplasty, Young adult, Urge incontinence, Healthcare system impact, Acid-fast bacilli, Creatinine level, Cystoscopy, Recreational drug, Biopsy findings, Medical professional, Mast cell, Serum urea level, Urinary tract symptom, Authors contribution, Hospice care, Bladder mucosa.

Let's grow together!

I humbly request your help to keep doing what I do best: provide the world with unbiased sources, definitions and images. Your donation direclty influences the quality and quantity of knowledge, wisdom and spiritual insight the world is exposed to.

Let's make the world a better place together!

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: