Association of Helicobacter pylori positivity with the symptoms in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) positivity and the severity of symptoms of nausea and vomiting in patients diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). DESIGN: Prospective controlled. METHODS: Ninety patients with the diagnosis of HG below the 20th week gestation, who had no additional disease and 50 pregnant women with no complaints were enrolled in the study. According to the severity of symptoms, the patients were divided into three groups as group I, II and III (mild, moderate and severe, respectively). The Rhode's scoring system was used to determine the severity of HG symptoms. HpIgG and IgM levels were determined in the blood samples and Hp DNA positivity with PCR was investigated in the saliva. RESULTS: In accordance with the Rhode's scoring system, 15.5 % of the pregnant women had mild, 58.9 % had moderate, and 25.6 % had severe symptoms (group I, II and III, respectively). HpIgG was determined as positive in 78.6, 84.9 and 82.6 % in groups I, II and III, respectively. HpIgM positivity was determined as 26.1 % only in group III (p = 0.847). HpDNA was determined as 7.2, 3.8, and 91.3 % in group I, II, and III, respectively (p<0.01). While HpIgG was positive in 60 %, HpDNA was found to be positive in 2 % and HpIgM was found to be negative in all the pregnant women in the control group. CONCLUSION: A positive relationship between the symptoms of HG and Hp positivity was determined using PCR.