Clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of hyperemesis gravidarum

Oh, Sun Ok; Park, Cheol Hong; Shin, Jong Seung; Park, Eun Joo; Park, Won Il; Shin, Jung Hwan; Hong, Seo Yoo; Lee, Jin Yong; Song, Tae Bok; Seo, Yong Soo

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
It is controversial that hyperemesis gravidarum has adverse effect on pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes in women with hyperemesis gravidarum.
METHODS
We identified 52 women who was treated as inpatients for hyperemesis gravidarum and had delivered babies between Jan. 2001 and Oct. 2004. The control group was 123 women who had not suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum. We performed a retrospective analysis of obstetric and pediatric medical records. We analyzed the data using student's t-test and Chi-square test and p-value<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
RESULTS
The average height (162.5+/-0.6 vs. 160.6+/-0.4 cm, Mean+/-SE) was significantly higher in hyperemesis group. The average pre-pregnancy BMI (20.2+/-0.3 vs. 21.0+/-0.2 kg/m2) and maternal age (29.8+/-0.5 vs. 31.2+/-0.3 years) were significantly lower in hyperemesis group. The average weight loss was 2.6 kg and the average hospital stay was 5.4 days. The average concentration of serum electrolytes were within normal limits. The hematocrit (35.4+/-0.4 vs. 34.3+/-0.2%) and unconjugated estriol (1.336+/-0.055 vs. 1.126+/-0.034 MoM) were significantly higher in hyperemesis group. Vaginal bleeding during the first trimester was more common in hyperemesis group (16.4 vs. 4.7%). Pregnancy outcomes between hyperemesis and control group were similar in average gestational age, average birth weight, average Apgar scores, sex ratio, congenital malformation and neonatal morbidity.
CONCLUSION
Pregnant women with hyperemesis had significant differences in some demographic characteristics, hematocrit, unconjugated estriol and vaginal bleeding during the first trimester, but had similar pregnancy outcomes.