Abstract
PurposeTo evaluate the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and erectile dysfunction (ED) in the illicit male ketamine abusers (KA).Materials and methodsThe male street KAs caught by policemen and patients visiting urologic clinics were invited to answer a structured questionnaire including demographic data, illicit drug use related details (duration, frequency, dosage and abstinence status), international prostate symptoms score (IPSS), interstitial cystitis symptoms and problem index (ICSI and ICPI) and International index of erectile function (IIEF-5). Erectile dysfunction was defined as IIEF-5 ≦21.ResultsFinally, we included 1056 participants (993 street, 63 hospital KAs) with a mean age of 27.4 ±6.2 years. ED presented in 30.8% of all KAs. and Hospital KAs were more subject to having ED than street KAs (69.6% vs. 28.0%, p<0.01). Multi-variate analysis revealed that risk factor for male ED were age ≧30 years (OR = 1.765). Subgroup analysis on male street KAs disclosed that abstinence ≧3 months is a protective factor for ED. Lower urinary tract symptoms (ICSI+ICPI ≧12) was prevalent in KAs and multivariate analysis disclosed that significant risk factors for LUTS (ICSI+ICPI ≧12) were age ≧30 years, duration ≧24 months and co-use of other illicit drugs.ConclusionsMale ED and LUTS were frequently observed in the ketamine abusers. We suggested that street ketamine abuse should be considered in young men presented with ED and LUTS in the clinics.
Highlights
Male erectile dysfunction (ED) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were frequently observed in the ketamine abusers
We suggested that street ketamine abuse should be considered in young men presented with ED and LUTS in the clinics
Ketamine is an antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor complex and is mainly used for anesthesia
Summary
Ketamine is an antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor complex and is mainly used for anesthesia. Depression[1] and pain[2]). Ketamine is being studied as a treatment for mental disorders It is frequently used as a recreation drug due to its dissociative effect. In Taiwan, ketamine is classified as grade III illicit drug and was second to ecstasy as the most commonly consumed illegal drugs among young people[3]. Illicit ketamine use is associated with urological burden such as ketamine cystitis and erectile dysfunction[4,5,6]. Large surveys revealed 20–30% of ketamine abusers suffered with lower urinary tract symptoms due to ketamine cystitis (KC)
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