Ammonia kinetics in eight patients with liver disease and in dogs.
Pharmacokinetic parameters of ammonia were calculated from a constant-rate infusion of ammonium chloride in 8 patients with chronic liver disease, and in 19 healthy mongrel dogs. In the animal group, the median half-life of the infused ammonia was approximately 4 minutes (range 3.5-5 minutes). The median ammonia clearance was 4.4 l/min (range 3.3-9.2 l/min). The median volume of distribution was approximately 28 liters. In the animal group, the median half-life of the infused ammonia was one minute (range less than 1-4 minutes). The median clearance was 2.2 l/min (range 1.2-4.2 l/min). The median volume of distribution was 3.1 liters. The short half-life and the high clearance of ammonia underscore the importance of the extrahepatic ammonia removal mechanisms.
D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism*; D000643:Ammonium Chloride; D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male
D000643:Ammonium Chloride; D000641:Ammonia