Re: Re: MSUD instead of autism.?

[Guest guest]

Hello there, Kate,

          Yes, this is, I believe, the underlying reason. I believe it is parasites

   that cause the adrenal glands to be over stimulated with their by-product:

    ammonia, and that leads to constant movement, making a chemical build-up

which expels from the body at a slower rate, leading to this sweet smell.

           My son has this sweet smell at times also.

[Guest guest]

Kate,

       As far as I can see, the organic acid test is only based on an average

      discards through the urine. The blood is what would need to

          be tested for a more accurate report- and the accuracy

           is still debatable.                      Ammonia

Also known as: Plasma Ammonia; NH3

Formal name: Ammonia

Related tests: Liver panel

At a Glance

Test Sample

The Test

Common Questions

Ask Us

Links

The Test

How is it used? When is it ordered? What does the test result mean? Is there anything else I should know?

How is it used?

The ammonia test is primarily used to help investigate the cause of changes in behavior and consciousness. It may be ordered, along with other tests such as glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function tests, to help diagnose the cause of a coma of unknown origin or to help support the diagnosis of Reye's syndrome or hepatic encephalopathy caused by various liver diseases. An ammonia level may also be ordered to help detect and evaluate the severity of a urea cycle defect. Some doctors use the ammonia test to monitor the effectiveness of treatment of hepatic encephalopathy, but there is not widespread agreement on its clinical utility. Since hepatic encephalopathy can be caused by the build-up of a variety of toxins in the blood and brain, blood ammonia levels correlate poorly with the degree of impairment.

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When is it ordered?

An ammonia test may be ordered on a newborn when symptoms such as irritability, vomiting, lethargy, and seizures arise in the first few days after birth. It may be performed when a child develops these symptoms about a week following a viral illness, such as influenza or a cold, when the doctor suspects that the child may have Reye's syndrome. When adults experience mental changes, disorientation, sleepiness, or lapse into a coma, an ammonia level may be ordered to help evaluate the cause of the change in consciousness. In patients with stable liver disease, an ammonia level may be ordered, along with other liver function tests, when a patient suddenly " takes a turn for the worse " and becomes more acutely ill.

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What does the test result mean?

Significantly increased concentrations of ammonia in the blood indicate that the body is not effectively metabolizing and eliminating ammonia but do not indicate the cause. In infants, extremely high levels are associated with an inherited urea cycle enzyme deficiency or defect but may also be seen with hemolytic disease of the newborn. Moderate short-lived increases in ammonia are relatively common in newborns, where the levels may rise and fall without causing detectible symptoms. Increased ammonia levels and decreased glucose levels may indicate the presence of Reye's syndrome in symptomatic children and adolescents. Increased concentrations may also indicate a previously undiagnosed enzymatic defect of the urea cycle. In children and adults, elevated ammonia levels may also indicate liver or kidney damage. Frequently, an acute or chronic illness will act as a trigger, increasing ammonia levels to the point that an affected patient has difficulty clearing them.

Normal concentrations of ammonia do not rule out hepatic encephalopathy. Other wastes can contribute to changes in mental function and consciousness, and brain levels of ammonia may be much higher than blood levels. This can make correlation of patient symptoms to ammonia blood levels difficult.

^ Back

[Guest guest]

Kate,

       As far as I can see, the organic acid test is only based on an average

      discards through the urine. The blood is what would need to

          be tested for a more accurate report- and the accuracy

           is still debatable.                      Ammonia

Also known as: Plasma Ammonia; NH3

Formal name: Ammonia

Related tests: Liver panel

At a Glance

Test Sample

The Test

Common Questions

Ask Us

Links

The Test

How is it used? When is it ordered? What does the test result mean? Is there anything else I should know?

How is it used?

The ammonia test is primarily used to help investigate the cause of changes in behavior and consciousness. It may be ordered, along with other tests such as glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function tests, to help diagnose the cause of a coma of unknown origin or to help support the diagnosis of Reye's syndrome or hepatic encephalopathy caused by various liver diseases. An ammonia level may also be ordered to help detect and evaluate the severity of a urea cycle defect. Some doctors use the ammonia test to monitor the effectiveness of treatment of hepatic encephalopathy, but there is not widespread agreement on its clinical utility. Since hepatic encephalopathy can be caused by the build-up of a variety of toxins in the blood and brain, blood ammonia levels correlate poorly with the degree of impairment.

^ Back to top

When is it ordered?

An ammonia test may be ordered on a newborn when symptoms such as irritability, vomiting, lethargy, and seizures arise in the first few days after birth. It may be performed when a child develops these symptoms about a week following a viral illness, such as influenza or a cold, when the doctor suspects that the child may have Reye's syndrome. When adults experience mental changes, disorientation, sleepiness, or lapse into a coma, an ammonia level may be ordered to help evaluate the cause of the change in consciousness. In patients with stable liver disease, an ammonia level may be ordered, along with other liver function tests, when a patient suddenly " takes a turn for the worse " and becomes more acutely ill.

^ Back to top

What does the test result mean?

Significantly increased concentrations of ammonia in the blood indicate that the body is not effectively metabolizing and eliminating ammonia but do not indicate the cause. In infants, extremely high levels are associated with an inherited urea cycle enzyme deficiency or defect but may also be seen with hemolytic disease of the newborn. Moderate short-lived increases in ammonia are relatively common in newborns, where the levels may rise and fall without causing detectible symptoms. Increased ammonia levels and decreased glucose levels may indicate the presence of Reye's syndrome in symptomatic children and adolescents. Increased concentrations may also indicate a previously undiagnosed enzymatic defect of the urea cycle. In children and adults, elevated ammonia levels may also indicate liver or kidney damage. Frequently, an acute or chronic illness will act as a trigger, increasing ammonia levels to the point that an affected patient has difficulty clearing them.

Normal concentrations of ammonia do not rule out hepatic encephalopathy. Other wastes can contribute to changes in mental function and consciousness, and brain levels of ammonia may be much higher than blood levels. This can make correlation of patient symptoms to ammonia blood levels difficult.

^ Back

[Guest guest]

Kate,

       As far as I can see, the organic acid test is only based on an average

      discards through the urine. The blood is what would need to

          be tested for a more accurate report- and the accuracy

           is still debatable.                      Ammonia

Also known as: Plasma Ammonia; NH3

Formal name: Ammonia

Related tests: Liver panel

At a Glance

Test Sample

The Test

Common Questions

Ask Us

Links

The Test

How is it used? When is it ordered? What does the test result mean? Is there anything else I should know?

How is it used?

The ammonia test is primarily used to help investigate the cause of changes in behavior and consciousness. It may be ordered, along with other tests such as glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function tests, to help diagnose the cause of a coma of unknown origin or to help support the diagnosis of Reye's syndrome or hepatic encephalopathy caused by various liver diseases. An ammonia level may also be ordered to help detect and evaluate the severity of a urea cycle defect. Some doctors use the ammonia test to monitor the effectiveness of treatment of hepatic encephalopathy, but there is not widespread agreement on its clinical utility. Since hepatic encephalopathy can be caused by the build-up of a variety of toxins in the blood and brain, blood ammonia levels correlate poorly with the degree of impairment.

^ Back to top

When is it ordered?

An ammonia test may be ordered on a newborn when symptoms such as irritability, vomiting, lethargy, and seizures arise in the first few days after birth. It may be performed when a child develops these symptoms about a week following a viral illness, such as influenza or a cold, when the doctor suspects that the child may have Reye's syndrome. When adults experience mental changes, disorientation, sleepiness, or lapse into a coma, an ammonia level may be ordered to help evaluate the cause of the change in consciousness. In patients with stable liver disease, an ammonia level may be ordered, along with other liver function tests, when a patient suddenly " takes a turn for the worse " and becomes more acutely ill.

^ Back to top

What does the test result mean?

Significantly increased concentrations of ammonia in the blood indicate that the body is not effectively metabolizing and eliminating ammonia but do not indicate the cause. In infants, extremely high levels are associated with an inherited urea cycle enzyme deficiency or defect but may also be seen with hemolytic disease of the newborn. Moderate short-lived increases in ammonia are relatively common in newborns, where the levels may rise and fall without causing detectible symptoms. Increased ammonia levels and decreased glucose levels may indicate the presence of Reye's syndrome in symptomatic children and adolescents. Increased concentrations may also indicate a previously undiagnosed enzymatic defect of the urea cycle. In children and adults, elevated ammonia levels may also indicate liver or kidney damage. Frequently, an acute or chronic illness will act as a trigger, increasing ammonia levels to the point that an affected patient has difficulty clearing them.

Normal concentrations of ammonia do not rule out hepatic encephalopathy. Other wastes can contribute to changes in mental function and consciousness, and brain levels of ammonia may be much higher than blood levels. This can make correlation of patient symptoms to ammonia blood levels difficult.

^ Back