HYPERAMMONEMIA Meaning and
Definition
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Hyperammonemia is a medical condition characterized by an excessively high level of ammonia in the blood. Ammonia is a toxic waste product that is produced when proteins are broken down in the body. Normally, the liver effectively converts ammonia into urea, which is then expelled from the body through urine. However, in individuals with hyperammonemia, the liver is unable to process ammonia efficiently, leading to its accumulation in the bloodstream.
The condition can be categorized into two types: acquired and genetic. Acquired hyperammonemia is usually caused by liver diseases, such as liver cirrhosis or hepatitis, which impair the liver's ability to remove ammonia effectively. Genetic hyperammonemia, on the other hand, is the result of inherited enzyme deficiencies that disrupt the normal breakdown of ammonia. This can lead to various disorders, including urea cycle disorders.
Common symptoms of hyperammonemia include confusion, lethargy, vomiting, seizures, irritability, and in severe cases, coma. If left untreated, hyperammonemia can be life-threatening, as the excess ammonia can cause damage to the brain and other organs.
Treatment for hyperammonemia aims to reduce ammonia levels in the body and manage its underlying cause. This may involve medications that promote ammonia excretion, dietary modifications low in protein, and sometimes dialysis or liver transplantation in severe cases. Regular monitoring and early intervention are crucial in managing hyperammonemia to prevent complications and improve the overall prognosis.
Common Misspellings for HYPERAMMONEMIA
- gyperammonemia
- byperammonemia
- nyperammonemia
- jyperammonemia
- uyperammonemia
- yyperammonemia
- htperammonemia
- hgperammonemia
- hhperammonemia
- huperammonemia
- h7perammonemia
- h6perammonemia
- hyoerammonemia
- hylerammonemia
- hy-erammonemia
- hy0erammonemia
- hypwrammonemia
- hypsrammonemia
- hypdrammonemia
- hyprrammonemia
Etymology of HYPERAMMONEMIA
The word "hyperammonemia" is derived from the combination of two Greek roots: "hyper" meaning excessive or high, and "ammon" referring to ammonia. The suffix "-emia" indicates a condition related to the blood. Therefore, "hyperammonemia" literally means an excessive amount of ammonia in the blood. It is a medical term used to describe a condition characterized by elevated levels of ammonia in the bloodstream.
