title: Low prepregnancy ideal weight:height ratio in women with hyperemesis gravidarum.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if a low prepregnancy weight:height ratio is a risk factor for hyperemesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was conducted on 38 patients admitted to North Shore University Hospital for hyperemesis over a 5-year period. Prepregnancy weight, body mass index and percent ideal weight:height ratio in this group were compared to findings on 79 randomly selected control patients not admitted for hyperemesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significantly higher incidence of prepregnancy underweight women (low percent ideal weight for height) in patients admitted for hyperemesis as compared to controls (P < .01). Thyroid-stimulating hormone was low in 19% of patients tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A low prepregnancy percent ideal weight:height ratio may predispose women to the development of hyperemesis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, 300 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 10030, USA. brochels@nshs.edu
authors.forename: Burton
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rochelson
authors.forename: Nidhi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vohra
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Darvishzadeh
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pagano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors