Ketamine-associated bladder dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of ketamine abuse on genitourinary tract dysfunction. METHODS: Eleven patients with urinary tract symptoms and a history of ketamine abuse in recent years were studied. Urinalysis, urine culture, renal function tests, abdominal sonography and urodynamic studies were done. Bladder biopsies were carried out in selected cases. RESULTS: The most common complaints were lower urinary tract symptoms, including dysuria, frequency, urgency and gross hematuria. Urinalyses showed nonbacterial pyuria and were negative for tuberculosis. All biopsy specimens showed infiltrations of granulocytes (mostly eosinophils) and mast cells within the bladder tissue. Medications produced only slight clinical improvements. Intravesical instillation of hyaluronan solution was performed for some patients and a significant improvement of lower urinary tract symptoms was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Although the dosage and duration of ketamine abuse causing severe side-effects are still unclear, some patients develop irreversible histological changes in the urinary tract. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of the negative effects of ketamine abuse on genitourinary tract function.

Ipsilateral synchronous neoplasms of kidney presenting as acute pyelonephritis and bladder metastasis.

Ipsilateral multiple synchronous primary renal neoplasms is an uncommon presentation, and only a few cases have been reported in published studies. We report the case of a 57-year-old woman with acute pyelonephritis as the initial presentation, in whom conservative treatment had no effect. Surgical intervention revealed the presence of concomitant renal cell carcinoma, collecting duct carcinoma, and urothelial carcinoma (transitional cell carcinoma) of the kidney. Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the bladder, liver, and lung subsequently developed. Deceptive inflammatory presentations can occur in aggressive synchronous renal malignancies. Recognition of this rare disease entity could prevent delays in diagnosis and treatment.