Which condition is NOT associated with elevated ammonia levels?

Which condition is NOT associated with elevated ammonia levels?

• A. Cirrhosis
• B. Hepatitis
• C. Reye's syndrome
• D. Nephrotic syndrome

Answer: (D)

Ammonia is mainly detoxified by the liver through the urea cycle; when liver function is impaired, ammonia accumulates in the blood, leading to hepatic encephalopathy. Cirrhosis reduces functional liver mass and blood flow, and hepatitis damages hepatocytes, both causing elevated ammonia. Reye's syndrome involves acute liver failure with mitochondrial dysfunction, also disrupting ammonia detoxification and raising its levels. Nephrotic syndrome, on the other hand, is a kidney disorder characterized by protein loss and edema and does not inherently disrupt the liver’s ability to process ammonia, so elevated ammonia is not a typical feature.

Ammonia is mainly detoxified by the liver through the urea cycle; when liver function is impaired, ammonia accumulates in the blood, leading to hepatic encephalopathy. Cirrhosis reduces functional liver mass and blood flow, and hepatitis damages hepatocytes, both causing elevated ammonia. Reye's syndrome involves acute liver failure with mitochondrial dysfunction, also disrupting ammonia detoxification and raising its levels. Nephrotic syndrome, on the other hand, is a kidney disorder characterized by protein loss and edema and does not inherently disrupt the liver’s ability to process ammonia, so elevated ammonia is not a typical feature.