AMMONIA (P) 0005509

Ammonia (NH4) is very useful in monitoring or diagnosing severe liver disease and certain genetic urea cycle disorders. When this level is high, it causes chanes in behavior and conciousness and requires a medication called Lactulose to lower it. It should be part of a panel of tests to investigate the effects of hepatic encephalopathy and Reye’s syndrome or the cause of mental changes unexplained coma or when an infant or child experiences frequent vomiting and increased lethargy as a newborn or about a week after a viral illness.