Features of biliary tract diseases in ketamine abusers: a systematic review of case reports.
Journal of medical case reports March 3, 2024 Alireza Teymouri, Hadis Nasoori, Maryamsadat Fakheri et al. 20 citations
Ketamine abuse can cause damage to the bile ducts and liver, a condition known as cholangiopathy. A systematic review of case reports found that affected patients are typically young men around 26 years old, presenting with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Imaging often shows dilation of the common bile duct. Most patients improve with supportive care, but the condition requires a multidisciplinary management approach. The review highlights the need to consider ketamine abuse in young patients with unexplained biliary symptoms and abnormal liver function.