Hyperammonemia From Ureaplasma Infection in an Immunocompromised Child

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2020 Mar;42(2):e114-e116. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000001414.

Abstract

Idiopathic hyperammonemia is a rare, poorly understood, and often lethal condition that has been described in immunocompromised patients. This report describes an immunocompromised patient with acute myelogenous leukemia who developed persistent hyperammonemia up to 705 µmol/L (normal, 0 to 47 µmol/L) refractory to multiple different therapies. However, after beginning azithromycin and then doxycycline therapy for Ureaplasma species infection, the patient showed immediate and sustained clinical improvement and resolution of ammonia levels. Recognizing disseminated Ureaplasma species infection as a potential cause of idiopathic hyperammonemia, an unexplained, often fatal condition in immunocompromised patients, and empirically treating for this infection could potentially be lifesaving.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects*
  • Doxycycline / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperammonemia / drug therapy
  • Hyperammonemia / etiology*
  • Hyperammonemia / pathology
  • Immunocompromised Host / drug effects*
  • Induction Chemotherapy / adverse effects*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / microbiology
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / pathology
  • Prognosis
  • Ureaplasma / drug effects*
  • Ureaplasma Infections / chemically induced
  • Ureaplasma Infections / complications*
  • Ureaplasma Infections / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Doxycycline