Helicobacter pylori infection and hyperemesis gravidarum

ABSTRACT

Hyperemesis gravidarum is one of the pregnancy complications which leads to decreased efficiency of pregnant women. To examine a hypothesis indicative of the presence of an association between hyperemesis gravidarum [HG] and Helicobacter pylori [HP] infection. This work was a case control study carried out on 35 pregnant women with HG [study group] and 35 asymptomatic pregnant women [control group] admitted to Kosar hospital, Qazvin, Iran in a six-month period between 2003-2004. Serum specific IgG for HP was assayed on the sera of both study a control groups after formal agreement was made. Data were analysed statistically using Chi-square and student t tests. Serologically positive HP infection was detected in 23 out of 35 patients with HG [%65.7] whereas in control group, only 7 out of 35 asymptomatic gravidas [%20] were found to have positive antibody titers against HP, The ratio of HP positivity in pregnant women with HG was significantly higher than asymtomatic group [P<0.004]. The mean index percentages of IgG titers in study and control groups were 27 +/- 30 and 10 +/- 13, respectively. HP infection seemed to be significantly associated with HG in pregnant population with hyperemesis gravidarum investigated in our study