J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  1997 Feb;21(1):216-222.

Encephalopathy Induced by Ammonia Inhalation: Case Reports

• Kim SK
• Lee CK
• Kim HJ

Abstract

Ammonia is a colorless alkaline gas with a sharp pungent odor. It is widely used in industry and there are several case reports on deleterious pulmonary damage. Ammonia is also highly neurotoxic that interferes energy met abolism in the brain even with a small amount and causes encephalopathy in patients with severe liver disease. We experienced two patients with toxic encephalopathy and followed-up for 18 months. We assumed that ammonia was supposed to play a major role in the dysfunction of their brains. In our cases, the possible mechanisms of brain damage are as followings: (1) ammonia has direct toxic effect on brain by altering the energy metabolism, (2) inhalation of ammonia results in severe pulmonary damage and it may aggravate brain injury, and (3)besides ammonia itself, relatively hypoxic environment that they were exposed can take part in the brain injury.

Keyword

Ammonia; encephalopathy; Cognitive Function; Brain SPECT

MeSH Terms

Ammonia*
Brain
Brain Injuries
Energy Metabolism
Humans
Inhalation*
Liver Diseases
Neurotoxicity Syndromes
Odors
Ammonia