hyperammonemia /hī′pəram′ōnē″mē·ə/ [Gk, hyper + L, sal ammoniacus + Gk, haima, blood] , abnormally high levels of ammonia in the blood. Ammonia is produced in the intestine, absorbed into the blood, and detoxified in the liver. It is also generated as a by-product of protein metabolism. An increased production of ammonia or a decreased ability to detoxify it increases the blood levels of ammonia. The disorder is controlled by low-protein diets, including essential amino acid mixtures. Untreated, the condition leads to hepatic encephalopathy, characterized by asterixis, vomiting, lethargy, coma, and death.
