Thyroid function tests are rarely abnormal in patients with severe hyperemesis gravidarum.
OBJECTIVE
There is considerable controversy in the literature as to the cause of hyperemesis gravidarum. The aim of this project was to measure a range of thyroid hormone levels in a group of hyperemetic pregnant women.


METHODS
The study was carried out in 10 first trimester pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum. All had been admitted to hospital due to the severity of their symptoms. Fifty age matched, healthy first trimester pregnant women were used as controls.


METHODS
Blood samples from the women were analysed for total T3 (TT3), total T4 (TT4), free T4 (FT4), TSH, thyrotrophin receptor antibodies (TRAb), thyroid stimulating antibodies (TSAb) and thyroid microsomal and thyroglobulin antibodies. Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) levels were also measured.


RESULTS
While individual patients were found to have some abnormal thyroid function tests the group as a whole showed no consistent pattern of abnormality and did not differ significantly from a group of healthy first trimester pregnant women. hCG levels were also within the normal range in the hyperemetic patients.


CONCLUSIONS
None of the women in this study received any antithyroid medication and their symptoms improved as the pregnancy progressed. These results would suggest that there is no underlying thyroid abnormality in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum. It would appear that neither thyroid hormones, nor hCG contribute to the pathogenesis of the condition.
University Department of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, UK.
R
R
Wilson
J H
JH
McKillop
M
M
MacLean
J J
JJ
Walker
W D
WD
Fraser
C
C
Gray
F
F
Dryburgh
J A
JA
Thomson
D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000276:immunology; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood*; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood*
D000906:Antibodies; D001323:Autoantibodies; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; C056626:thyroid microsomal antibodies; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013954:Thyroglobulin; D013974:Thyroxine