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Case Reports
. 2022 Feb 1:42:102019.
doi: 10.1016/j.eucr.2022.102019. eCollection 2022 May.

Ketamine-induced uropathy: A diagnostic pitfall in an increasing healthcare issue in youngsters

Glenn Lamers  1   2 , Johan Van Dyck  1 , Stijn Schapmans  1 , Katrien De Coster  1 , Dries Mortier  3 , Natalia Zabegalina  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Ketamine-induced uropathy: A diagnostic pitfall in an increasing healthcare issue in youngsters

Glenn Lamers et al. Urol Case Rep. .

Abstract

Ketamine induced uropathy (KIU) is a urological condition increasing in prevalence, with similar symptoms to UTI, OAB syndrome or interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. We present the case of an 18-year old male who established severe LUTS and acute kidney injury due to KIU, in a short time-span of 6 months. Since cessation of ketamine is the cornerstone of treating KIU, correct and early diagnosis is essential. Physicians should therefore consider KIU as a differential diagnosis in storage LUTS, especially in younger patients with therapy-resistant LUTS.

Keywords: ADHD, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; BPS, bladder pain syndrome; Bladder; CRP, C-reactive protein; IV, intravenous; KIU, ketamine induced uropathy; Ketamine; LUTS; LUTS, lower urinary tract symptoms; NMDA, N-Methyl-d-aspartate; STD, sexual transmitted disease; UTI, urinary tract infection; Uropathy; hpf, high power field.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no financial conflict of interest with regard to the content of this report.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Cystography with 50 cc of contrast. Note the leakage of contrast along the urethra and bilateral reflux indicating the severely decreased bladder capacity.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Increased number inflammatory cells with loss or superficial urothelial cell layer is shown in a. In b, marked fibrin deposition is shown indicating the increased activity of submucosal fibroblasts.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Cystography after several months of abstinence and symptomatic treatment. Bladder capacity up till 300 cc without signs of ureteral reflux or urethral leakage.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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