Helicobacter pylori seropositivity in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the hypothesis that there was an association between hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) and Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection.

METHODS: The study group consisted of 95 pregnant women with HG and 116 asymptomatic pregnant women who were admitted to our hospital between January 1997 and October 1998. Specific serum immunoglobulin G for 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 statistical analysis of the data.

RESULTS: Serologically positive HP infection was detected in 87 of the 95 patients with HG (91.5%) whereas 52 of the 116 asymptomatic gravidas (44.8%) serving as the control group had positive antibody concentrations against HP. The ratio of HP positivity in pregnant women 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 hyperemesis gravidarum and 25.8 +/- 5.6% control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: HP infection seemed to be significantly associated with hyperemesis gravidarum in our pregnant patient population with hyperemesis gravidarum.