Gaafar, M., Mohammed, A., Mokhtar, W. (2022). Incidence of Hyperammonemia among High-Risk Infants Admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 88(1), 2936-2941. doi: 10.21608/ejhm.2022.242998
Mohamed Mamdouh Gaafar; Ali Ahmed Mohammed; Wesam A. Mokhtar. "Incidence of Hyperammonemia among High-Risk Infants Admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit". The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 88, 1, 2022, 2936-2941. doi: 10.21608/ejhm.2022.242998
Gaafar, M., Mohammed, A., Mokhtar, W. (2022). 'Incidence of Hyperammonemia among High-Risk Infants Admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit', The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 88(1), pp. 2936-2941. doi: 10.21608/ejhm.2022.242998
Gaafar, M., Mohammed, A., Mokhtar, W. Incidence of Hyperammonemia among High-Risk Infants Admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 2022; 88(1): 2936-2941. doi: 10.21608/ejhm.2022.242998
Incidence of Hyperammonemia among High-Risk Infants Admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt
Abstract
Introduction: Severe liver failure and inborn metabolic abnormalities produce hyperammonemia in children. Because of the pre-analytical challenges that must be properly controlled, achieving valid plasma ammonia levels in acute instances might be difficult. Objective: The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of plasma ammonia levels among high risk infants admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at NICU in Pediatric Department at Zagazig University Children Hospital. This study involved 60 neonates and children who were subjected to full medical history, thorough clinical examination and laboratory investigations. Frequency of suspected and confirmed inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) cases was assessed. Results:The mean age was 2.15±1.89 years and weight was 8.95±6.56, 50.0% were male, regarding mode of delivery in 66.7% was cesarean section (CS). 48.3% had consanguinity. The main complaints for patients were respiratory distress (51.7%), convulsion (33.3%) and encephalopathy (10%) and the hyperammonemia was detected in 25% of the studied group. The hyperammonemia was detected in 66.7% of the confirmed IEM cases. About 16 cases (26.7%) of the studied group, unfortunately, died while 73.3% survived. Conclusion: Hyperammonemia represented a one of the main significant cause of sick infants' admission to PICU. Hyperammonemia must be rapidly suspected in case of neurologic symptoms in pediatrics. An adequate management should start rapidly as coma duration and ammonia peak level.