title: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in the Hispanic population affected by hyperemesis gravidarum.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori seropositivity in pregnant Hispanics affected by hyperemesis gravidarum.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted over a 22-month period. Serum from pregnant Hispanics affected by hyperemesis gravidarum and unaffected Hispanics matched for age, gravidity, parity, and country of origin were tested for H pylori immunoglobulin G (IgG). IgG levels specific for H pylori were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Assuming the background prevalence of H pylori serum positivity in the Hispanic population is approximately 60%, 38 patients in each group were needed to detect a 30% difference in affected patients versus controls with a power of 80% and P = .05. Statistical analysis was performed using Yate's chi-square, Student t test, Mann-Whitney U, and binary logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 82 patients between the ages of 18 to 39 years were enrolled. Of 40 patients diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum, 26 (65%) were seropositive for H pylori compared with 28 of 42 (67%) unaffected controls (P = 1.0). There were no statistical differences in maternal age or countries of origin between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall prevalence of H pylori seropositivity in this patient population is 66%. In pregnant Hispanics affected by hyperemesis gravidarum, H pylori seropositivity is not increased compared with unaffected controls.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center, Women's and Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. richarhl@usc.edu
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Vivien L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G