1/31. Successful use of alternate waste nitrogen agents and hemodialysis in a patient with hyperammonemic coma after heart-lung transplantation.BACKGROUND: Lethal hyperammonemic coma has been reported in 2 adults after lung transplantation. It was associated with a massive elevation of brain glutamine levels, while plasma glutamine levels were normal or only slightly elevated. In liver tissue, glutamine synthetase activity was markedly reduced, and the histologic findings resembled those of reye syndrome. The adequacy of therapy commonly used for inherited disorders of the urea cycle has not been adequately evaluated in patients with this form of secondary hyperammonemia. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether hemodialysis, in conjunction with intravenous sodium phenylacetate, sodium benzoate, and arginine hydrochloride therapy, would be efficacious in a patient with hyperammonemic coma after solid-organ transplantation. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: A children's hospital. PATIENT: A 41-year-old woman with congenital heart disease developed a hyperammonemic coma with brain edema 19 days after undergoing a combined heart and lung transplantation. methods: Ammonium was measured in plasma. amino acids were quantitated in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid by column chromatography. The effectiveness of therapy was assessed by measuring plasma ammonium levels and intracranial pressure and performing sequential neurological examinations. RESULTS: The patient had the anomalous combination of increased cerebrospinal fluid and decreased plasma glutamine levels. To our knowledge, she is the first patient with this complication after solid-organ transplantation to survive after combined therapy with sodium phenylacetate, sodium benzoate, arginine hydrochloride, and hemodialysis. Complications of the acute coma included focal motor seizures, which were controlled with carbamazepine, and difficulty with short-term memory. CONCLUSIONS: The aggressive use of hemodialysis in conjunction with intravenous sodium phenylacetate, sodium benzoate, and arginine hydrochloride therapy may allow survival in patients after solid-organ transplantation. An acute acquired derangement in extra-central nervous system glutamine metabolism may play a role in the production of hyperammonemia in this illness that resembles reye syndrome, and, as in other hyperammonemic disorders, the duration and degree of elevation of brain glutamine levels may be the important determining factors in responsiveness to therapy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = hyperammonemia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/31. Predicting outcome from coma: man-in-the-barrel syndrome as potential pitfall.The glasgow coma scale motor score is often used in predicting outcome after hypoxic-ischemic coma. Judicious care should be exerted when using this variable in predicting outcome in patients with coma following hypotension since borderzone infarction can obscure the clinical picture. We describe a patient who underwent skull base surgery for a schwannoma of the left facial nerve. The operation, which lasted for 10 h, was conducted under controlled hypotension. After the intervention the patient remained comatose with absent arm movements upon painful stimuli. An absent motor score usually carries a poor prognosis. However, magnetic resonance inversion recovery imaging of the brain showed bilateral hyperintense lesions in the arm-hand area indicative of borderzone ischemic damage. The patient received optimal supportive care and after 17 days he regained consciousness with 'man-in-the-barrel syndrome', which also further improved over time.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.6208347973143E-6keywords = hand (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/31. A Japanese case of congenital hyperinsulinism with hyperammonemia due to a mutation in glutamate dehydrogenase (GLUD1) gene.We describe a Japanese case of neonatal hyperinsulinism due to a de novo mutation (Gly446Asp) in glutamate dehydrogenase gene (GLUD1). A boy suffered from hypoglycemic coma with relative hyperinsulinemia on day 1 after birth, and received subtotal pancreatectomy. Examination of the resected pancreas revealed a diffuse increase in endocrine cells, consistent with 'nesidioblastosis'. He is now 15 years old and has exhibited mild but persistent hyperammonemia, which is a very unique feature of the disorder caused by GLUD1 activating mutations. He has also been suffering from seizures and mental retardation. Thus, GLUD1 mutations can be a cause of congenital hyperinsulinism in Japanese.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.5keywords = hyperammonemia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/31. Reversible parkinsonism and hyperammonemia associated with portal vein thrombosis.Portal-systemic encephalopathy may be seen with hyperammonemia that complicates chronic liver disease. We report an unusual case of reversible parkinsonism associated with hyperammonemia and portal vein thrombosis. An active 90-year-old male developed motor slowing and resting hand tremor over 6 months. Examination showed asterixis, bradykinesia, cogwheel rigidity, rest tremor, and a parkinsonian gait. serum venous ammonia was elevated at 145 microM. The next day, the patient became comatose and serum ammonia was 178 microM. With lactulose therapy, serum ammonia level normalized and examination showed only minimal parkinsonism after 1 week. An abdominal CT scan identified portal vein thrombosis with porto-systemic shunting that reversed after 7 months of treatment. Examination 2 years later showed no signs of parkinsonism. Parkinsonism can dominate the clinical picture of patients with hyperammonemia before the onset of encephalopathy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3.5000016208348keywords = hyperammonemia, hand (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/31. hyperammonemia in urea cycle disorders: role of the nephrologist.hyperammonemia associated with inherited disorders of amino acid and organic acid metabolism is usually manifested by irritability, somnolence, vomiting, seizures, and coma. Although the majority of these patients present in the newborn period, they may also present in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood with failure to thrive, persistent vomiting, developmental delay, or behavioral changes. Persistent hyperammonemia, if not treated rapidly, may cause irreversible neuronal damage. After the diagnosis of hyperammonemia is established in an acutely ill patient, certain diagnostic tests should be performed to differentiate between urea cycle defects and other causes of hyperammonemic encephalopathy. In a patient with a presumed inherited metabolic disorder, the aim of therapy should be to normalize blood ammonia levels. Recent experience has provided treatment guidelines that include minimizing endogenous ammonia production and protein catabolism, restricting nitrogen intake, administering substrates of the urea cycle, administering compounds that facilitate the removal of ammonia through alternative pathways, and, in severe cases, dialysis therapy. Initiation of dialysis in the encephalopathic patient with hyperammonemia is indicated if the ammonia blood level is greater than three to four times the upper limit of normal. Hemodialysis is the most effective treatment for rapidly reducing blood ammonia levels. Continuous hemofiltration and peritoneal dialysis are also effective modalities for reducing blood ammonia levels. An improved understanding of the metabolism of ammonia and neurological consequences of hyperammonemia will assist the nephrologist in providing optimal care for this high-risk patient population.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = hyperammonemia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/31. hyperammonemia and coma without hepatic dysfunction induced by valproate therapy.The authors report a case of a 41-year-old mentally disabled man with bipolar disorder who presented to the emergency department with altered mental status. He was found to have a significantly elevated ammonia level (377 microM/L) with no signs of hepatic insufficiency. His coma and hyperammonemia were attributed to his chronic valproate therapy. This patient had the highest serum ammonia level ever reported with a therapeutic valproate level in the absence of any other anticonvulsant therapy, metabolic abnormality, or hepatic dysfunction. The authors discuss this case and review the current literature on hyperammonemia in valproic acid therapy and the use of L-carnitine in these patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = hyperammonemia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/31. adult presentation of MCAD deficiency revealed by coma and severe arrythmias.We report the case of a 33-year-old man who presented with headaches and vomiting. Soon after admission he became drowsy and agitated, developed ventricular tachycardia and his neurological state worsened (Glasgow coma score 6). blood analysis showed respiratory alkalosis, hyperlactacidemia (8 mmol/l), hyperammonemia (390 micro mol/l) and hypoglycaemia (2.4 mmol/l). Subsequently, he developed supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia and ultimately ventricular fibrillation resulting in cardiac arrest, which was successfully treated. A CT scan of the head revealed cerebral oedema. Whilst in the intensive care unit, he developed renal failure and rhabdomyolysis. The metabolic abnormalities seen at the time of admission normalised within 48 h with IV glucose infusion. Biological investigations, including urinary organic acids and plasma acylcarnitines, showed results compatible with MCAD deficiency. mutation analysis revealed the patient was homozygous for the classical mutation A985G. This is one of only a few reports of severe cardiac arrhythmia in an adult due to MCAD deficiency. This condition is probably under-diagnosed in adult patients with acute neurological and/or cardiac presentations.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = hyperammonemia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/31. ammonia induced encephalopathy from valproic acid in a bipolar patient: case report.valproic acid is widely used as a mood stabilizer. We report a case of an adult with bipolar disorder taking therapeutic doses of valproic acid, who presented to the emergency department with coma related to hyperammonemia as a complication of valproic acid treatment. valproic acid was discontinued which resulted in rapid clinical recovery. valproic acid induced coma was likely related to a urea cycle enzymopathy. Clinicians should consider hyperammonemia in all patients who present with coma and other mental status changes while on valproic acid. In such patients, ammonia level should be obtained in addition to liver function tests.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = hyperammonemia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/31. Acute postpartum mental status change and coma caused by previously undiagnosed ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency.BACKGROUND: Acute postpartum mental status change usually represents postpartum blues or depression. Psychosis and coma are rare. This is a case report of a patient with previously undiagnosed ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency presenting as postpartum acute mental status change and coma. CASE: A 28-year-old multipara developed acute mental status change and coma 3 days after cesarean delivery. A metabolic profile and neurologic workup were unrevealing. An electroencephalogram revealed diffusely slow brain activity. She developed hyperammonemia and hyperglutaminemia and was diagnosed with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency. Her newborn son was diagnosed with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency on the previous day. Treatment with oral lactulose resulted in normalization of her ammonia level and resolution of her coma within 48 hours. She suffers no long-term sequelae. Dietary avoidance of protein was advised; outpatient treatment with sodium benzoate, sodium phenylacetate, and lactulose was initiated. A pedigree analysis is ongoing. CONCLUSION: ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute postpartum coma. hyperammonemia, hyperglutaminemia, and orotic aciduria are diagnostic, facilitate early treatment, and mitigate the risk of permanent neurologic impairment or death.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = hyperammonemia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/31. A patient with propionic acidemia managed with continuous insulin infusion and total parenteral nutrition.An infant newly diagnosed with propionic acidemic coma was managed successfully with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and continuous infusion of insulin. The urinary excretion of 3-hydroxypropionic acid was reduced to 3% of the admission value in 4 days, gradually decreasing to 1.5% in 16 days. The treatment did not prevent a prolonged episode of thrombocytopenia. The infant tolerated TPN well, except for continued hyper-lactic acidemia (2 to 4 times normal). Metabolic acidosis and mild hyperammonemia recurred only when the patient had sepsis secondary to candida albicans and staphylococcus aureus infection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = hyperammonemia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |