title: A novel approach to hyperemesis gravidarum: evaluation by a visual analogue scale score and treatment with transdermal clonidine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A preliminary report on the symptomatic effect of clonidine in severe hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital based: Ospedale Sant'Anna, Torino, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve pregnant women, 8-16 weeks, affected by severe, refractory HG.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assessment by two clinical score indexes: Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE) score and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) 5-item questionnaire, filled out daily, to detect subjective improvement or worsening of symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  PUQE score and VAS score before and after transdermal clonidine treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found substantial improvement of symptoms and severity score indexes after four and 14 days. The comparison of pretreatment and post-treatment scores shows a significant statistical difference P < 0.0001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transdermal clonidine may be considered as a treatment for resistant severe HG.
authors: Dipartimento di Ostetricia e Neonatologia, Servizio di Medicina Interna, Ospedale Sant'Anna, Università di Torino , Torino , Italy.
authors: Aldo
authors: A
authors: Maina
authors: Dipartimento di Ostetricia e Neonatologia, Servizio di Medicina Interna, Ospedale Sant'Anna, Università di Torino , Torino , Italy.
authors: Tullia
authors: T
authors: Todros
keywords: clonidine; hyperemesis gravidarum; treatment