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Sub-Category:

Hepatic Disorders

Number of Conditions: 1

Hyperammonemia (e.g., from liver failure)

Specialty: Toxicology

Category: Endogenous Toxins

Sub-category: Hepatic Disorders

Symptoms:
confusion; lethargy; vomiting; irritability; tremors; seizures; coma

Root Cause:
Excess ammonia in the bloodstream due to impaired liver function or inherited metabolic disorders, leading to neurotoxicity.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests showing elevated ammonia levels; clinical symptoms; imaging (e.g., CT or MRI) to rule out other causes of neurological dysfunction; genetic testing for inherited disorders.

Treatment:
Lactulose (a non-absorbable sugar) to trap ammonia in the gut, rifaximin to reduce ammonia-producing bacteria, supportive care, and addressing the underlying cause such as liver transplantation in severe cases.

Medications:
Lactulose (osmotic laxative), rifaximin (intestinal antibiotic), sodium benzoate , and sodium phenylbutyrate (ammonia-scavenging agents).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in individuals with cirrhosis or acute liver failure; also occurs in certain inherited urea cycle disorders.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Liver cirrhosis, acute liver failure, high-protein diet in susceptible individuals, inherited metabolic disorders.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Treatable if addressed early; severe cases can lead to permanent neurological damage or death if untreated.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hepatic encephalopathy, cerebral edema, coma, death.