Ammonia is a toxic by-product of protein metabolism and is primarily converted to urea by the liver. The Ammonia Assay Kit (AMM) is used to measure ammonia levels in blood, helping clinicians assess liver function and metabolic status.
Key clinical importance:
- Liver disorders: Elevated blood ammonia is commonly seen in acute and chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure due to impaired urea cycle function.
- Hepatic encephalopathy: High ammonia levels are a major cause of neurological symptoms like confusion, altered consciousness, and coma in patients with severe liver dysfunction.
- Urea cycle disorders: Increased ammonia helps in diagnosing inherited metabolic disorders, especially in neonates and children.
- Renal failure: Impaired ammonia excretion can contribute to raised levels in kidney dysfunction.
- Monitoring treatment: Ammonia estimation is useful for monitoring response to therapy in hepatic encephalopathy and other metabolic conditions.