Cystitis due to the use of ketamine as a recreational drug: a case report

Britt Colebunders¹ and Peter Van Erps²

¹University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein, B 2610 Antwerp, Belgium

²Department of Urology, ZNA Middelheim, Lindendreef, B 2020 Antwerp, Belgium

author email corresponding author email

Journal of Medical Case Reports 2008, 2:219doi:10.1186/1752-1947-2-219


Published:	26 June 2008

Abstract

Introduction

Ketamine is a derivative of phencyclidine and is a dissociative anaesthetic. Its use as a recreational drug is on the increase among young adults attending clubs and parties.

Case presentation

We describe the case of a 20-year-old man who presented with a 7-month history of urinary frequency, nocturia, urgency, suprapubic discomfort during micturition and episodes of severe haematuria shortly after commencing weekly recreational ketamine use. Complementary examinations were negative except for a thickened bladder wall on ultrasound examination and mild inflammatory changes on cystoscopy. So far only nine cases of ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis have been described.

Conclusion

We expect that in the future an increasing number of cases of cystitis caused by ketamine use will be seen in young adults.