A novel cause of emergent hyperammonemia: Cryptococcal fungemia and meningitis.

Among etiologies of hyperammonemic emergencies, infection must be considered in certain clinical contexts, particularly among immunocompromised individuals. Although Cryptococcus neoformans is known to be urease-producing, to our knowledge it has not previously been described as a cause of hyperammonemia in patients. We report an immunocompromised man with acute on chronic kidney disease with hyperammonemic crisis due to Cryptococcal meningitis and fungemia. It is important to be aware of C. neoformans as a possible cause of hyperammonemia.