AMMONIA, BLOOD
( Spectrophotometry )
-
umol/L
11.00-35.00
Comments
Ammonia is metabolized exclusively in the liver through the urea cycle enzymes which
convert ammonia into urea. Toxic build up of ammonia due to disruption of this metabolism
produces neurotoxic effects. Elevated serum levels of ammonia indicate some form of liver
failure.
Increased levels
 Congenital deficiency of Urea cycle enzymes
 Cirrhosis
 Acute fulminant hepatitis
 Reye’s syndrome
 Hepatic encephalopathy