EC Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine

Within the ICU, nonhepatic hyperammonemia is a severe condition that consists of elevated ammonia within the blood, originating from etiologies not connected to liver complications. This can lead to a plethora of critical conditions for the patients such as coma, seizures, and cerebral edema, so quick action with treatment is a necessity. Nonhepatic hyperammonemia can stem from preexisting conditions such as inborn errors of metabolism or it can be inflicted through prior treatments or the use of certain medications, such as anticonvulsants and corticosteroids. With this being said, the etiology of this condition is often complicated to identify and leads to life-threatening effects, hereby solidifying the importance within urgency to make the correct diagnosis and treatment for nonhepatic hyperammonemia.

 Keywords: Nonhepatic Hyperammonemia (NHH); ICU; Anticonvulsants; Corticosteroids

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