Hyperammonemic Encephalopathy Secondary to Urinary Tract Infection

Hyperammonemic encephalopathy (HE) refers to a clinical condition characterized by abrupt alteration in mental status (AMS) with markedly elevated plasma ammonia levels and frequently results in intractable coma and death. While hepatic cirrhosis is by far the most common etiology for hyperammonemia together with drugs such as valproic acid as well as urea cycle disorders, non-hepatic causes of hyperammonemia are rare and pose a clinical challenge. In this report, we describe a case of HE caused by obstructive urinary tract infection due to urease-producing bacteria in a 69-year-old man with two episodes of obstructive uropathy associated with AMS resolving with treatment with antibiotics and lactulose with normalization of ammonia level. We also provide a review of the literature with emphasis on the recognition of this serious entity of HE in the setting of obstructive uropathy to avoid the possible complications that include intractable coma and high mortality from this potentially treatable disorder.