Abstract
Hyperammonemia (ammonia nitrogen level >90 umol/L) during the first week of life was observed in 5 of 9 infants weighing ≥1000 grams at birth. Ammonia nitrogen levels ranged between 40 and 214 umol/L. Liver function tests were normal. None of these infants had received either oral or parenteral protein supplement.
All 9 infants were receiving assisted ventilation. As part of their supportive care, each infant received one or more transfusions of blood or blood products during the period prior to obtaining the serum ammonia nitrogen level. The following blood products were analyzed for their ammonia nitrogen content:
Infants received between 5 and 16 umol ammonia nitrogen/Kg body weight. Regression analysis of serum ammonia nitrogen levels and transfused umol ammonia nitrogen/Kg body weight revealed a correlation coefficient of +0.85.
The use of products with high ammonia content represents an exogenous source of ammonia which may contribute to elevated serum ammonia nitrogen levels in some low birth weight infants.
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Sanchez, R., Ukrainski, C., Perlin, B. et al. 1020 HYPERAMMONEMIA IN LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 534 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-01026
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-01026