Helicobacter pylori seropositivity in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze the hypothesis that there was an association between hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) and Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 95 pregnant women with HG and 116 asymptomatic pregnant women who were admitted to our hospital between January 1997 and October 1998. Specific serum immunoglobulin G for HP was assayed in the sera of the study group after informed consent was obtained. Chi-square and Student's t-test were used accordingly for statistical analysis of the data.


RESULTS
Serologically positive HP infection was detected in 87 of the 95 patients with HG (91.5%) whereas 52 of the 116 asymptomatic gravidas (44.8%) serving as the control group had positive antibody concentrations against HP. The ratio of HP positivity in pregnant women with HG was significantly higher than asymptomatic pregnant women (P < 0.001). The mean index percentages of IgG titers were 73.8 +/- 9.7% in the hyperemesis gravidarum and 25.8 +/- 5.6% control group (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
HP infection seemed to be significantly associated with hyperemesis gravidarum in our pregnant patient population with hyperemesis gravidarum.
Koçak
I
I
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. kocak@iname.com
Akcan
Y
Y
Ustün
C
C
Demirel
C
C
Cengiz
L
L
Yanik
F F
FF
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000382:microbiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology