Ammonia: Why It Is Done
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Why It Is Done
An ammonia test is done to:
- Check how well the liver is working, especially when symptoms of confusion, excessive sleepiness, coma, or hand tremor are present.
- Check the success of treatment for severe liver disease, such as cirrhosis.
- Help identify a childhood disorder called Reye's syndrome that can damage the liver and the brain. Ammonia testing can also help predict the outcome (prognosis) of a diagnosed case of Reye's syndrome.
- Help predict the outcome (prognosis) of a diagnosed case of acute liver failure.
- Check the level of ammonia in a person receiving high-calorie intravenous (IV) nutrition (hyperalimentation).
| Last updated: | January 02, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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