The First Case Report of Ketamine-Induced Cholangiopathy in Korea

Abstract

Ketamine is an anesthetic agent for diagnostic and surgical procedures. However, it can produce dissociative anesthesia and induce hallucinations. Therefore, it tends to be abused as a recreational drug. Chronic ketamine use can cause numerous adverse effects including ketamine-induced chlangiopathy and ulcerative cystitis. Ketamineinduced cholangiopathy has been reported since the 1980s and most cases were found in Western countries and South Asia. Here, we report the first case of ketamineinduced cholangiopathy in Korea. Owing to increasing recreational drug use among Koreans, ketamine-induced cholangiopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis in young patients with cholangitis of unknown etiology.