How hyperammonemia causes encephalopathy?
How hyperammonemia causes encephalopathy? Hyperammonemia is one of the metabolic derangements that contribute to hepatic encephalopathy, which can cause swelling of astrocytes and stimulation of NMDA-receptors in the brain. Overstimulation of NMDA-receptors induces excitotoxicity. How does high ammonia levels affect the brain? Elevated concentrations of ammonia in the brain as a result of hyperammonemia leads to cerebral dysfunction involving a spectrum of neuropsychiatric and neurological symptoms (impaired memory, shortened attention span, sleep-wake inversions, brain edema, intracranial hypertension, seizures, ataxia and coma). What is effect of hyperammonemia on human body? If your body can't process or eliminate ammonia, it builds up...