Glutamine and ammonia in hepatic encephalopathy

Publikation: Bidrag til bog/antologi/rapportBidrag til bog/antologiForskningfagfællebedømt

The amino acid glutamine is present in all tissues and it serves several purposes depending on the tissue in question. This chapter is devoted to a discussion of its role in relation to the elevated ammonia levels found in the brain in the context of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), a disturbance of the central nervous system due to liver failure [1] characterized by cognitive, psychiatric, and motor deficits. Early symptoms include reversal of sleep pattern, apathy, hypersomnia, irritability, and personal neglect and HE can progressively lead to coma and death [2]. Brain ammonia homeostasis is functionally associated with metabolism in the liver since this organ is responsible for removal of excess ammonia from the bloodstream. Thus, this chapter is intended to focus on glutamine metabolism in these two organs.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TitelGlutamine in Clinical Nutrition
Antal sider9
ForlagSpringer New York LLC
Publikationsdato1 jan. 2015
Sider219-227
ISBN (Trykt)9781493919314
ISBN (Elektronisk)9781493919321
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 1 jan. 2015

ID: 203245584