A pilot study of urine cytokines in ketamine-associated lower urinary tract symptoms.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The aim of this study was to investigate urine cytokine and chemokine levels in symptomatic ketamine abusers compared with age-matched controls.

METHODS

Midstream urine specimens were collected in a prospective study of 23 ketamine abusers and 27 controls who had never used ketamine. Their basic demographic and urinary symptoms were compared. The urine was analyzed by a multiplex panel screen for 19 cytokines/chemokines: EGF, GM-CSF, GRO, IL-1Ra, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1b, sCD40L, sIL-2Ra, VEGF, MCP-4, and TARC using Luminex™ xMAP® technology. Protein concentration values were normalized to urine creatinine concentrations.

RESULTS

Mean age of the control group was 21.1 ± 4.3 years (n = 27) and of the ketamine group was 20.6 ± 3.7 years (n = 23). All participants were women. The urine cytokine analysis showed a significant elevation in EGF levels in the ketamine group with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) compared with the control group (p < 0.005). Levels of the remaining 18 proteins tested were not different from control values.

CONCLUSIONS

Urinary EGF levels were increased among symptomatic ketamine abusers. This suggests inflammation and epithelial repair may play a role in ketamine-associated LUTS, and this may in turn help in understanding the pathophysiology of this disease entity, leading to better treatment options.