Then, we are told that she has a defect in "ammoniagenesis". In the renal tubules, ammonia is generated in two primary ways: via direct conversion of glutamine to ammonia in the proximal tubule which is then secreted into the tubule, or by NH3 combining with with H+ in the collecting tubules (which I guess they are considering a separate ammoniagenesis pathway even though its all kinda related?). See this diagram or this diagram
Assuming our girl has Type I renal tubular acidosis, there will be decreased availability of hydrogen ions in the renal tubules to combine with NH3. Thus, the primary source of ammonia production in this patient will be glutamine (which is the major source of ammoniagenesis in a normal person anyways).
Further reasoning - Type I is impaired secretion of hydrogen ions into the lumen, so there will be less hydrogen ions available. She likely has type I because this is primarily treated with potassium citrate (both to buffer and to prevent renal stones which are a common complication). Even if she had Type II the increased excretion of bicarb would also buffer more H+ leaving less for ammoniagenesis in the NH3/H+ combination fashion.
Contrarily, Type 4 renal tubular acidosis (hyperkalemic) results in decreased synthesis of ammonia in the proximal tubules, which we know she does not have because of her low potassium.
cheesetouchCassie you're a god.
Simple/stupid approach to make a good guess - if she cannot make ammonia in the kidney, main ammonia source probably from an exogenous form like amino acids -> Glutamine!+3
submitted by โcassdawg(1780)
TL;DR: Even with Type I or II renal tubular acidosis the ammoniagenesis from glutamine is not impaired and thus is the main source of ammonia.
Here is my take: Based on her history and measured plasma values, this girl likely has one of the "low potassium" renal tubular acidoses, either Type I or Type II (see this chart for reasoning based on measured values or this image for fun colorful renal tubular acidosis and FA2020 p593)
Then, we are told that she has a defect in "ammoniagenesis". In the renal tubules, ammonia is generated in two primary ways: via direct conversion of glutamine to ammonia in the proximal tubule which is then secreted into the tubule, or by NH3 combining with with H+ in the collecting tubules (which I guess they are considering a separate ammoniagenesis pathway even though its all kinda related?). See this diagram or this diagram
Assuming our girl has Type I renal tubular acidosis, there will be decreased availability of hydrogen ions in the renal tubules to combine with NH3. Thus, the primary source of ammonia production in this patient will be glutamine (which is the major source of ammoniagenesis in a normal person anyways).
Further reasoning - Type I is impaired secretion of hydrogen ions into the lumen, so there will be less hydrogen ions available. She likely has type I because this is primarily treated with potassium citrate (both to buffer and to prevent renal stones which are a common complication). Even if she had Type II the increased excretion of bicarb would also buffer more H+ leaving less for ammoniagenesis in the NH3/H+ combination fashion.
Contrarily, Type 4 renal tubular acidosis (hyperkalemic) results in decreased synthesis of ammonia in the proximal tubules, which we know she does not have because of her low potassium.