Causes of Altered Blood Ammonia Levels

[Show Table Outline]

Increased Levels

• Liver failure, late cirrhosis
• GI hemorrhage
• Late congestive heart failure
• Azotemia
• Hemolytic disease of the newborn
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Leukemias
• Reye's syndrome
• Inborn enzyme deficiency
• Excessive protein ingestion
• Alkalosis

Drugs

• Acetazolamide (Diamox)
• Ammonium salts
• Barbiturates
• Colistin (Coly-Mycin S)
• Diuretics
• Ethanol
• Heparin
• Isoniazid
• Methicillin
• Morphine
• Tetracycline

Decreased Levels

• Renal failure
• Hypertension

Drugs

• Arginine (R-Gene)
• Benadryl
• Sodium salts
• Glutamic acid (Acidulin)
• MAO inhibitors
• Antibiotics (tetracycline [Achromycin], kanamycin [Kantrex], neomycin)
• Potassium salts

[Table Outline]

• Increased Levels
• Decreased Levels