Hyperemesis gravidarum and its relation with maternal body fat composition

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine if maternal body fat composition and body mass index were associated with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) in the first trimester of pregnancy. Healthy pregnant women (n = 30) without nausea and vomiting (control group) and women with HG (n = 54; study group), all with singleton pregnancy at 6–14 weeks gestational age, were included. Body mass index was measured before and during pregnancy. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous fat thickness were measured during pregnancy. Comparison of the groups revealed that VAT and pre-pregnancy body mass index but not subcutaneous fat thickness were significantly higher in the HG group versus controls. VAT and pre-pregnancy body mass index predicted 83.8% and 67.1% of HG cases, respectively. VAT and pre-pregnancy body mass index were correlated with the development of hyperemesis gravidrum and hence could be considered as predictive markers for HG.

Keywords::

• Hyperemesis gravidarum
• body mass index
• visceral adipose tissue
• subcutaneous fat thickness

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest. Our study is presented as a poster presentation at “Turkey Maternal Fetal Medicine and Perinatology Society IX. National Congress” that was held in Istanbul Harbiye Military Museum between 24 and 27 September 2014.