Familial aggregation of hyperemesis gravidarum

Abstract

Objective This study was undertaken to determine whether there is familial aggregation of Hyperemesis Gravidarum making it a disease amenable to genetic study. Study Design Cases with severe nausea and vomiting in a singleton pregnancy treated with intravenous hydration and unaffected friend controls completed a survey regarding family history. Results Sisters of women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum have a significantly increased risk of having Hyperemesis Gravidarum themselves (OR=17.3, p=0.005). Cases have a significantly increased risk of having a mother with severe nausea and vomiting; 33% of cases reported an affected mother compared to 7.7% of controls (p<.0001). Cases reported a similar frequency of affected second-degree maternal and paternal relatives (18% maternal lineage, 23% paternal lineage). Conclusion There is familial aggregation of Hyperemesis Gravidarum. This study provides strong evidence for a genetic component to hyperemesis gravidarum. Identification of the predisposing gene(s) may determine the cause of this poorly understood disease of pregnancy.

Effects of Ginger for Nausea and Vomiting in Early Pregnancy: A Meta-Analysis

“…There seems to be a genetic component to developing hyperemesis gravidarum; several studies demonstrate that daughters of women who experienced the condition are at increased risks. 7,8 It is interesting that alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking have both been demonstrated to be protective. 9 The exact pathogenesis of NVEP remains unclear; however, hormonal changes including elevated serum human chorionic gonado-tropin have been implicated, 2 as have psychological factors and stress response.…”

Morning sickness in pregnancy: mini review of possible causes with proposal for monitoring by diagnostic methods

“…20 Where data was accessible, the study also noted that in women with HG, 18% of their maternal grandmothers and 23% of paternal grandmothers also had been affected. Ismail and Kenny, noted that HG may decline in subsequent pregnancies if there is different paternity and suggested that with a different father, the incidence of HG may present with less severity or not at all.…”

“…6,11 Hormones associated with pregnancy and possibly NVP and HG include hCG, thyroxine, progesterone and oestrogen but psychological, genetic and external risk factors such as smoking, age, infection and diet are also implicated. 2,16,[17][18][19][20][21][22] Discretionally, these implicated causes are hereby briefly reviewed under five basic points:…”

“…23 Other studies have also confirmed ethnicity to correlate with severity and incidence of NVP. 14,20 Differences have been reported in foetal genders and incidences of HG. 19,30 For instance, Fell et al, 19 observed that foetal sex ratio among women who did not have an antepartum admission for hyperemesis was 51.2% males and 48.8% females and in women with 1-2 admissions for hyperemesis the proportions changed to 44.4% males and 55.6% females while in women with 3 or more admissions, the foetal sex distribution was 37.5% males compared with 62.5% females.…”

Hyperemesis gravidarum

“…Jüngste Untersuchungen an schwangeren Töchtern von Müttern, die in ihrer Schwangerschaft an HG litten, ergeben Hinweise auf eine familiäre Häufung und damit eine genetische Komponente der HG [24]. Das Auftreten der HG scheint dabei vor allem durch den maternalen Genotyp bestimmt zu werden.…”