Cerebral Glutamine Concentration and Lactate-Pyruvate Ratio in Patients with Acute Liver Failure

Aim Hyperammonemia causes brain edema and high intracranial pressure (ICP) in acute liver failure (ALF) by accumulation of glutamine in brain. Since a high-level glutamine may compromise mitochondrial function, the aim of this study was to determine if the lactate–pyruvate ratio is associated with a rise in the glutamine concentration and ICP.