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Hyperammonemia, or high ammonia levels, is a metabolic disturbance characterised by an excess of ammonia in the blood. It 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.
Lactulose is a non-absorbable sugar used in the treatment of constipation and hepatic encephalopathy. [3][4] It is administered orally for constipation, and either orally or rectally for hepatic encephalopathy. [3] It generally begins working after 8–12 hours, but may take up to 2 days to improve constipation. [1][2]
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is an altered level of consciousness as a result of liver failure. [2] Its onset may be gradual or sudden. [2] Other symptoms may include movement problems, changes in mood, or changes in personality. [2] In the advanced stages it can result in a coma.
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. [ 3 ][ 14 ] Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. [ 15 ] The severity of the condition is variable. [ 15 ]
Citrullinemia belongs to a class of genetic diseases called urea cycle disorders. The urea cycle is a sequence of chemical reactions taking place in the liver. These reactions process excess nitrogen, generated when protein is used for energy by the body, to make urea, which is excreted by the kidneys.
Ornithine transcarbamylase, the defective enzyme in this disorder, is the final enzyme in the proximal portion of the urea cycle, responsible for converting carbamoyl phosphate and ornithine into citrulline. OTC deficiency is inherited in an X-linked recessive manner, meaning males are more commonly affected than females.
Argininosuccinic aciduria. Argininosuccinic aciduria is an inherited disorder that causes the accumulation of argininosuccinic acid (also known as "ASA") in the blood and urine. 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 ...
Acute liver failure is the appearance of severe complications rapidly after the first signs (such as jaundice) of liver disease, and indicates that the liver has sustained severe damage (loss of function of 80–90% of liver cells). The complications are hepatic encephalopathy and impaired protein synthesis (as measured by the levels of serum ...