Immunologic and biochemical factors in hyperemesis gravidarum with or without hyperthyroxinemia.
OBJECTIVE
This study was set up to investigate the relationship between immune process and high levels of human chorionic gonadotropin-beta (betahCG) in hyperemesis patients with or without hyperthyroxinemia.


METHODS
betahCG, immune parameters and thyroid related hormones were assayed in hyperemesis patients and in controls.


RESULTS
Mean serum betahCG, fT4 and TSH levels were significantly higher in hyperemesis patients than in controls (p<0. 01, p<0.01, p<0.05, respectively). Further, immune parameters regarding IgG, IgM, C3, C4 and lymphocyte count were significantly higher in patients than in controls (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively). In hyperemesis patients with hyperthyroxinemia, mean serum betahCG, IgG and IgM were significantly higher than in hyperemesis women without hyperthyroxinemia (p<0.001, p<0.05, p<0.05, respectively). BetahCG was positively correlated with fT4 (r = 0.45, p<0.05), with lymphocyte count (r = 0.47, p<0.01), with IgM (r = 0.38, p<0.05) and with C3 (r = 0.40, p<0.05) in hyperemesis patients. A negative correlation between betahCG and TSH (r = -0.43, p<0.05) was noted in the hyperemesis group. Free T4 showed a positive association to IgM (r = 0.49, p<0.01), to IgG (r = 0.40, p<0.05), to lymphocyte count (r = 0.45, p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Immunologic activity in pregnancy may have an effect or role on the stimulatory mechanism of betahCG in hyperemesis patients with or without hyperthyroxinemia.
Leylek
O A
OA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cumhuriyet University School of Medicine, Sivas, Turkey.
Toyaksi
M
M
Erselcan
T
T
Dokmetas
S
S
D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006981:Hyperthyroxinemia / Q000150:complications*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D011247:Pregnancy; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine