Immunologic and biochemical factors in hyperemesis gravidarum with or without hyperthyroxinemia.

OBJECTIVE: This study was set up to investigate the relationship between immune process and high levels of human chorionic gonadotropin-beta (betahCG) in hyperemesis patients with or without hyperthyroxinemia.

METHODS: betahCG, immune parameters and thyroid related hormones were assayed in hyperemesis patients and in controls.

RESULTS: Mean serum betahCG, fT4 and TSH levels were significantly higher in hyperemesis patients than in controls (p<0. 01, p<0.01, p<0.05, respectively). Further, immune parameters regarding IgG, IgM, C3, C4 and lymphocyte count were significantly higher in patients than in controls (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively). In hyperemesis patients with hyperthyroxinemia, mean serum betahCG, IgG and IgM were significantly higher than in hyperemesis women without hyperthyroxinemia (p<0.001, p<0.05, p<0.05, respectively). BetahCG was positively correlated with fT4 (r = 0.45, p<0.05), with lymphocyte count (r = 0.47, p<0.01), with IgM (r = 0.38, p<0.05) and with C3 (r = 0.40, p<0.05) in hyperemesis patients. A negative correlation between betahCG and TSH (r = -0.43, p<0.05) was noted in the hyperemesis group. Free T4 showed a positive association to IgM (r = 0.49, p<0.01), to IgG (r = 0.40, p<0.05), to lymphocyte count (r = 0.45, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Immunologic activity in pregnancy may have an effect or role on the stimulatory mechanism of betahCG in hyperemesis patients with or without hyperthyroxinemia.