Helicobacter pylori seropositivity in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the hypothesis that there w as an association between hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) and Helicobacter pylo ri (HP) infection. Methods: The Study group consisted of 95 pregnant women with HG and 116 asymptomatic pregnant women who were admitted to our hospit al between January 1997 and October 1998. Specific serum immunoglobulin G f or 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 statis tical analysis of the data. Results: Serologically positive HP infection wa s detected in 87 of the 95 patients with HG (91.5%) whereas 52 of the 116 a symptomatic gravidas (44.8%) serving as the control group had positive anti body concentrations against HP. The ratio of HP positivity in pregnant wome n 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 hy peremesis gravidarum and 25.8 +/- 5.6% control group (P < 0.01). Conclusion : HP infection seemed to be significantly associated with hyperemesis gravi darum in our pregnant patient population with hyperemesis gravidarum. (C) 1 999 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.