title: Positive serology for Helicobacter pylori and vomiting in the pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, several investigators have suggested that H. pylori may be a contributory factor in hyperemesis gravidarum. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether seropositivity for IgG antibodies to H. pylori may also be related to nausea, vomiting, heartburn and epigastric pain in pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eighty-five women, at term pregnancy, were included in the study. All women completed a questionnaire regarding information on the number of pregnancies and deliveries, weight gain, smoking and gastrointestinal complaints before and during pregnancy. The presence of H. pylori infection was determined by serology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence rate of H. pylori seropositivity was 45.9%. Women positive for H. pylori IgG were older (28.7+/-4.5 vs. 27.0+/-4.5, p=0.02), had more prior pregnancies (3.2+/-2.1 vs. 2.6+/-1.6, p=0.02) and deliveries (2.6+/-1.6 vs. 2.0+/-1.1, p=0.006) and reported vomiting in the first trimester more frequently than H. pylori negative patients (81.2% vs. 65%, p=0.004). On the other hand vomiting in the second trimester was reported more frequently among smokers during pregnancy compared to non-smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  H. pylori seropositivity is significantly associated with emesis gravidarum but not with gastro-intestinal symptoms later in pregnancy. First trimester vomiting more than doubles the likelihood that the gravida is H. pylori IgG positive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, E. Wolfson Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Holon, Israel. shirin@wolfson.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shirin
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sadan
authors.forename: Orit
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Shevah
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bruck
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boaz
authors.forename: Steven F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Everon
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glezerman
authors.forename: Yona
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Avni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014839:Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G