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What Causes Elevated Ammonia Levels While Suffering From Kidney Cancer?
Hi my dad is 86 and having a kidney cancer operation and colon cancer operation.but they said they dont know why his amonia level went up once.his dr ran rests and said its normal his liver.but the surgeons want him to see a liver specialist.can he still have the operations?
Fri, 23 Feb 2018
Hello,
In case of kidney cancer, the treatment in most of the patients will be surgery which you had undergone. Colon cancer surgery had also been done to your undergone up till now it was clear.
Coming to ammonia levels, ammonia is waste product produced in the body in different metabolic processes (protein metabolism). As ammonia is a waste product and it has to be removed from the body. But our body (kidneys) cannot eliminate ammonia directly. So ammonia is converted to urea and then eliminated. This conversion of ammonia to urea (urea cycle) occurs inside liver.
In case of liver diseases, ammonia is not converted to urea and hence accumulates in blood. So in blood investigations, there will high ammonia levels.
Coming to your case, same thing might be probable reason of your high ammonia levels. So it is better to go for a liver checkup.
Regarding liver examination, you have to do the following things:
1. Palpation of liver to examine any change in size of liver
2. Liver Function Tests to assess functioning of liver
3. Ultrasound abdomen to check for any changes in liver
No need to worry, but consult for liver tests as soon as possible to avoid serious consequences.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Vamsi Krishna Chittimoju
In case of kidney cancer, the treatment in most of the patients will be surgery which you had undergone. Colon cancer surgery had also been done to your undergone up till now it was clear.
Coming to ammonia levels, ammonia is waste product produced in the body in different metabolic processes (protein metabolism). As ammonia is a waste product and it has to be removed from the body. But our body (kidneys) cannot eliminate ammonia directly. So ammonia is converted to urea and then eliminated. This conversion of ammonia to urea (urea cycle) occurs inside liver.
In case of liver diseases, ammonia is not converted to urea and hence accumulates in blood. So in blood investigations, there will high ammonia levels.
Coming to your case, same thing might be probable reason of your high ammonia levels. So it is better to go for a liver checkup.
Regarding liver examination, you have to do the following things:
1. Palpation of liver to examine any change in size of liver
2. Liver Function Tests to assess functioning of liver
3. Ultrasound abdomen to check for any changes in liver
No need to worry, but consult for liver tests as soon as possible to avoid serious consequences.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Vamsi Krishna Chittimoju
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