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.