Successful resolution of hyperammonemia following hematopoietic cell transplantation with directed treatment of Ureaplasma parvum infection

Abstract

Hyperammonemia following hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has been characterized as idiopathic and is associated with a very high mortality. A causal relationship between Ureaplasma infection and hyperammonemia in immunocompromised lung transplant recipients has recently been described. We document the first case of hyperammonemia following HCT associated with Ureaplasma parvum. The initiation of appropriate antibiotics resulted in rapid resolution of hyperammonemic encephalopathy and eradication of the implicating organism.

Keywords: Ureaplasma parvum; hematopoietic cell transplantation; hyperammonemia.