Blood Ammonia Levels Following the Ingestion of Casein and Whole Blood1

Abstract

Seven patients with cirrhosis of the liver and 4 control patients without liver disease were studied, each patient serving as his own control. Both whole blood and a casein-milk solids preparation (Protenum) containing the same amount of nitrogen were administered intragastrically to each patient. Blood ammonia levels were followed over a period of 5 hours. The control patients showed no significant elevation in ammonia levels. Although both substances produced significant elevations in blood ammonia levels in patients with liver disease, per g of N administered, the whole blood had a much greater and more prolonged effect than did Protenum.