Abstract | OBJECTIVE: It is known that patients with convulsion often present hyperammonemia. The elevation of ammonia levels in convulsion is considered to occur along with extensive muscle contractions, but the details remain unclear. In emergency pathologies, such as cardiopulmonary arrest or hemorrhagic shock without muscle contraction, red blood cells are known to produce ammonia through acidosis, leading to hyperammonemia. A similar effect would be considered to be involved in idiopathic epileptic seizure patients as well. METHODS: RESULTS: High ammonia levels (>35 μmol/L) were observed in 22 cases. Maximum ammonia level was 506 μmol/L. Significant differences were observed in the pH (r = 0.838, P < .0001) and base excess (BE) (r = 0.863, P < .0001), the values suggesting a strong negative correlation between the ammonia level and pH/BE. CONCLUSION: Idiopathic epileptic seizures can present with prominent hyperammonemia with acidosis. Because high ammonia level in epileptic seizure was strongly correlated with pH and BE, we speculate that hyperammonemia is not only because of extensive muscle contractions but is also related to ammonia production in the red blood cells through acidosis like other emergency conditions.
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Authors | Kensuke Nakamura, Kiyomi Yamane, Kazuaki Shinohara, Kent Doi, Ryota Inokuchi, Takahiro Hiruma, Susumu Nakajima, Eisei Noiri, Naoki Yahagi |
Journal | The American journal of emergency medicine
(Am J Emerg Med)
Vol. 31
Issue 10
Pg. 1486-9
(Oct 2013)
ISSN: 1532-8171 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 24007697
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | © 2013. |
Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Acid-Base Imbalance
(blood, etiology)
- Adult
- Ammonia
(blood)
- Emergency Service, Hospital
(statistics & numerical data)
- Epilepsy
(blood, complications)
- Female
- Humans
- Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
- Hyperammonemia
(etiology)
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
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