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Hyperammonemia, or high ammonia levels, is a metabolic disturbance characterised by an excess of ammonia in the blood. Severe hyperammonemia is a dangerous condition that may lead to brain injury and death. It may be primary or secondary. Ammonia is a substance that contains nitrogen. It is a product of the catabolism of protein.
Some patients may also have an elevation of ammonia, a toxic chemical, which can affect the nervous system. Argininosuccinic aciduria may become evident in the first few days of life because of high blood ammonia, or later in life presenting with "sparse" or "brittle" hair, developmental delay, and tremors.
Hyperammonemia occurs when the body produces excess ammonia. This ammonia primarily exists as ammonium ion that has a concentration less than or around 35 μmol/L in normal referenced serum levels. [3] Excess ammonia is processed in the liver through the urea cycle to produce urea. [3]
The syndrome is associated with changes on blood tests such as a high blood ammonia ... (above 300 mg/dL of blood) Death; ... The reported incidence rate of Reye ...
As a result, propionyl-CoA, propionic acid, ketones, ammonia, and other toxic compounds accumulate in the blood, causing the signs and symptoms of propionic acidemia. Hyperammonemia develops due to the inhibitory effects of propionyl-CoA on N-acetylglutamate synthase, indirectly resulting in slowing of the urea cycle. [12]
The underlying mechanism is believed to involve the buildup of ammonia in the blood, a substance that is normally removed by the liver. [2] The diagnosis is typically based on symptoms after ruling out other potential causes. [2] [6] It may be supported by blood ammonia levels, an electroencephalogram, or computer tomography (CT scan) of the ...
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Chronic metabolic acidosis is most often caused by a decreased capacity of the kidneys to excrete excess acids through renal ammoniagenesis. The typical Western diet generates 75–100 mEq of acid daily, [11] and individuals with normal kidney function increase the production of ammonia to get rid of this dietary acid. As kidney function ...