Luca Cioccari1, Matthias Gautschi, Reto Etter, Anja Weck, Jukka Takala. 1. 1Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Bern University Hospital (Inselspital) and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. 2Institute of Clinical Chemistry and University Children's Hospital, Bern University Hospital (Inselspital) and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. 3Department of Neurology, Bern University Hospital (Inselspital) and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We report a case of a woman with hyperammonemic encephalopathy following glutamine supplementation. DESIGN: Case report. INTERVENTIONS: Plasma amino acid analysis suggestive of a urea cycle defect and initiation of a treatment with lactulose and the two ammonia scavenger drugs sodium benzoate and phenylacetate. Together with a restricted protein intake ammonia and glutamine plasma levels decreased with subsequent improvement of the neurological status. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Massive catabolism and exogenous glutamine administration may have contributed to hyperammonemia and hyperglutaminemia in this patient. CONCLUSION: This case adds further concerns regarding glutamine administration to critically ill patients and implies the importance of monitoring ammonia and glutamine serum levels in such patients.
OBJECTIVE: We report a case of a woman with hyperammonemic encephalopathy following glutamine supplementation. DESIGN: Case report. INTERVENTIONS: Plasma amino acid analysis suggestive of a urea cycle defect and initiation of a treatment with lactulose and the two ammonia scavenger drugs sodium benzoate and phenylacetate. Together with a restricted protein intake ammonia and glutamine plasma levels decreased with subsequent improvement of the neurological status. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Massive catabolism and exogenous glutamine administration may have contributed to hyperammonemia and hyperglutaminemia in this patient. CONCLUSION: This case adds further concerns regarding glutamine administration to critically illpatients and implies the importance of monitoring ammonia and glutamine serum levels in such patients.