-
Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica... Sep 2023The pathogenesis and risk factors for hyperemesis gravidarum, excessive nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, are not adequately recognized. In our previous study, we found...
INTRODUCTION
The pathogenesis and risk factors for hyperemesis gravidarum, excessive nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, are not adequately recognized. In our previous study, we found that women with a personal history of nausea in different situations and a family history of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) were more likely to have severe NVP. The present study focuses on these themes in association with hyperemesis gravidarum in a hospital setting.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Women with hyperemesis gravidarum (n = 102) were recruited from among patients hospitalized due to hyperemesis gravidarum in Turku University Hospital, Finland. Our control group (Non-NVP group, n = 138) consisted of pregnant women with no NVP. Personal history of nausea in different situations was inquired about in relation to "motion sickness", "seasickness", "migraine", "other kind of headache", "after anesthesia", "during the use of contraception", and "other kinds of nausea". Relatives with NVP were divided into first-degree (mother and sisters) and second-degree (more distant) relatives.
RESULTS
In univariate analysis, a personal history of motion sickness, seasickness, nausea related to migraine, nausea with other headache and nausea in other situations were associated with hyperemesis gravidarum. After adjusting for age, parity, pre-pregnancy body mass index, marital status, and smoking, motion sickness (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.67-10.31, p < 0.0001), seasickness (aOR 4.82, 95% CI 2.32-10.03, p < 0.0001), nausea related to migraine (aOR 3.00, 95% CI 1.58-5.70, p < 0.001), and nausea in other situations (aOR 2.65, 95% CI 1.13-6.20, p = 0.025) remained significant. In multivariable analysis with all history of nausea variables, motion sickness (OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.29-5.89, p = 0.009) and nausea related to migraine (OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.40-6.86, p = 0.005) were associated with hyperemesis gravidarum. Having any affected relative (OR 3.51, 95%CI 1.84-6.73, p = 0.0002), especially a first-degree relative (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.62-5.79, p = 0.0006), was also associated with hyperemesis gravidarum. Adjustment did not change the results.
CONCLUSIONS
Women with a personal history of nausea or a family history of NVP are more likely to suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum. These results are beneficial to better identify and help women at risk for hyperemesis gravidarum.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adult; Hyperemesis Gravidarum; Nausea; Pregnant Women; Finland; Case-Control Studies; Headache
PubMed: 37431247
DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14629 -
Journal of Cannabis Research Jun 2023Cannabis use during pregnancy is increasing, with 19-22% of patients testing positive at delivery in Colorado and California. Patients report using cannabis to alleviate... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Cannabis use during pregnancy is increasing, with 19-22% of patients testing positive at delivery in Colorado and California. Patients report using cannabis to alleviate their nausea and vomiting, anxiety, and pain. However, preclinical and clinical data highlight harmful effects to offspring physiology and behavior following fetal cannabis exposure. This narrative review identifies potential areas for intervention to decrease cannabis consumption during pregnancy.
METHODS
A combination of keywords, including "cannabis", "cannabis", "weed", "pregnancy", "morning sickness", "child protective services", and "budtender" were searched in databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar, as well as in social media forums, governmental webpages, and other publicly available sources.
RESULTS
The literature search identified several areas for intervention to reduce cannabis use during pregnancy, including physician and pharmacist training, engagement with pregnant patients, regulation of dispensary workers, and the role of child protective services.
DISCUSSION
This comprehensive review identifies multiple areas for improvement to benefit pregnant patients. Recommendations are independent and can be implemented simultaneously by the identified groups. Limitations of this research includes the relatively limited availability of data focused specifically on cannabis consumption during pregnancy and the complexity of the sociopolitical field of substance use during pregnancy.
CONCLUSIONS
Cannabis consumption during pregnancy is increasing and causes harm to the developing fetus. To educate pregnant patients about these risks, we must address the gaps in education from multiple contact points.
PubMed: 37330589
DOI: 10.1186/s42238-023-00184-x -
Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica... Jan 2024Hyperemesis gravidarum affects 0.3%-3% of pregnant women each year and is the leading cause of hospitalization in early pregnancy. Previous systematic reviews of...
INTRODUCTION
Hyperemesis gravidarum affects 0.3%-3% of pregnant women each year and is the leading cause of hospitalization in early pregnancy. Previous systematic reviews of available treatments have found a lack of consistent evidence, and few studies of high quality. Since 2016, no systematic review has been conducted and an up-to date review is requested. In a recent James Lind Alliance collaboration, it was clear that research on effective treatments is a high priority for both patients and clinicians.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Searches without time limits were performed in the AMED, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Medline, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases until June 26, 2023. Studies published before October 1, 2014 were identified from the review by O'Donnell et al., 2016. Selection criteria were randomized clinical trials and non-randomized studies of interventions comparing treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum with another treatment or placebo. Outcome variables included were: degree of nausea; vomiting; inability to tolerate oral fluids or food; hospital treatment; health-related quality of life, small-for-gestational-age infant; and preterm birth. Abstracts and full texts were screened, and risk of bias of the studies was assessed independently by two authors. Synthesis without meta-analysis was performed, and certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. PROSPERO (CRD42022303150).
RESULTS
Twenty treatments were included in 25 studies with low or moderate risk of bias. The certainty of evidence was very low for all treatments except for acupressure in addition to standard care, which showed a possible moderate decrease in nausea and vomiting, with low certainty of evidence.
CONCLUSIONS
Several scientific knowledge gaps were identified. Studies on treatments for hyperemesis gravidarum are few, and the certainty of evidence for different treatments is either low or very low. To establish more robust evidence, it is essential to use validated scoring systems, the recently established diagnostic criteria, clear descriptions and measurements of core outcomes and to perform larger studies.
Topics: Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Hyperemesis Gravidarum; Nausea; Pregnant Women; Premature Birth; Quality of Life
PubMed: 37891710
DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14706 -
Clinical Chemistry Oct 2015
Topics: Aspartate Aminotransferases; Clinical Enzyme Tests; Female; Humans; Hyperemesis Gravidarum; Pregnancy
PubMed: 26416919
DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2015.238246 -
JAMA Network Open May 2023It is unknown whether olanzapine combined with triplet antemetic therapy is effective for all patients undergoing highly emetogenic chemotherapy. A secondary analysis of... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
IMPORTANCE
It is unknown whether olanzapine combined with triplet antemetic therapy is effective for all patients undergoing highly emetogenic chemotherapy. A secondary analysis of randomized clinical trials using olanzapine may provide insight into the effectiveness of olanzapine for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), including cisplatin.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the add-on effect of olanzapine according to risk factors for CINV.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This preplanned secondary analysis evaluated results of the J-FORCE trial, a large double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 randomized clinical trial conducted in Japan from February 9, 2017, to July 18, 2018. Participants were enrolled from 26 participating hospitals across Japan and included patients aged 20 to 75 years who had a malignant tumor and were cisplatin-naive. The efficacy analysis population of the J-FORCE trial was analyzed according to allocation adjustment factors (sex [male or female], age [≥55 years or <55 years], and cisplatin dose [≥70 mg/m2 or <70 mg/m2]) and patient-related risk factors (history of motion sickness, drinking habit [defined as alcoholic drinks consumption in excess of occasional drinking], and history of morning sickness during pregnancy). Statistical analysis was performed from February 18 to April 18, 2020.
INTERVENTIONS
Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive 5 mg of olanzapine or placebo combined with standard triplet antiemetic therapy.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The primary end point was complete response (CR, defined as no vomiting and no use of rescue medication) in the delayed phase (24-120 hours after cisplatin-based chemotherapy administration). Secondary end points were CR, complete control, and total control in the acute, delayed, and overall phases for 6 CINV risk factors as well as time to treatment failure. The CR point estimates and 95% CIs of the differences between groups were calculated, and a Mantel-Haenszel test was performed.
RESULTS
Of the 705 patients (mean [SD] age, 63.0 [9.2] years; 471 males [66.8%]) included in the efficacy analysis population; 581 patients (82.4%) were 55 years or older, and 526 (74.6%) were treated with a cisplatin dose of 70 mg/m2 or more. Risk difference (RD) for a CR in the delayed phase was significantly greater in the olanzapine group than the placebo group in males (RD, 12.6% [95% CI, 5.0%-20.1%]; P = .001); in females (RD, 14.5% [95% CI, 2.2%-26.3%]; P = .02); in those 55 years or older (RD, 11.1% [95% CI, 3.9%-18.2%]; P = .003) or younger than 55 years (RD, 23.6% [95% CI, 7.3%-38.3%]; P = .005); for a cisplatin dose of 70 mg/m2 or more (RD, 13.5% [95% CI, 5.9%-21.0%]; P < .001); for those without a history of motion sickness (RD, 13.9% [95% CI, 6.9%-20.6%]; P < .001); for those with a drinking habit (RD, 14.9% [95% CI, 6.1%-23.4%]; P = .001) or without a drinking habit (RD, 12.0% [95% CI, 2.5%-21.3%]; P = .01); and for those with a history of morning sickness during pregnancy (RD, 27.2% [9.7%-42.6%]; P = .002). In other subgroups, a delayed CR was higher in the olanzapine group than the placebo group, although not significantly higher.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Results of this study suggest a benefit of using 5 mg of olanzapine plus triplet antiemetic therapy to counter CINV regardless of the presence or absence of risk factors.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry Identifier: UMIN000024676.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Pregnancy; Middle Aged; Antiemetics; Olanzapine; Cisplatin; Vomiting; Nausea; Motion Sickness; Morning Sickness
PubMed: 37129897
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.10894 -
The Medical Journal of Australia Apr 2019
Topics: Adult; Bile; Cholestasis; Female; Humans; Hyperemesis Gravidarum; Jaundice; Liver; Liver Diseases; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 30829394
DOI: 10.5694/mja2.50057 -
Journal of Infusion Nursing : the...Hyperemesis gravidarum can result in life-threatening physical and psychological maternal morbidity, including severe dehydration, weight loss, electrolyte imbalance,...
Hyperemesis gravidarum can result in life-threatening physical and psychological maternal morbidity, including severe dehydration, weight loss, electrolyte imbalance, depression, and suicidal ideation. The reported prevalence of hyperemesis gravidarum ranges from 0.3% to 3.6%. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate what blogs can tell us about women's experiences of hyperemesis gravidarum. Thirty-three blogs written by hyperemesis gravidarum survivors posted on Hyperemesis Australia's website were analyzed using Krippendorff's qualitative content analysis method. Clustering was used and yielded 6 themes: (1) debilitating physical and mental health problems: digging deep to persevere, (2) heartbreaking choices, (3) lack of understanding and dismissed, (4) so much guilt surrounding their unborn infant, (5) it takes a village to support women with hyperemesis gravidarum, and (6) warriors and survivors: giving back. Infusion nurses are in a perfect position to provide support and compassionate care for women who are repeatedly coming to the hospital for rehydration treatment. Infusion nurses can validate women's physical and emotional struggles with hyperemesis gravidarum and help to no longer make women feel stigmatized.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Hyperemesis Gravidarum; Fluid Therapy; Dehydration
PubMed: 37920107
DOI: 10.1097/NAN.0000000000000520 -
Journal of Theoretical Biology Aug 2014Pregnancy sickness is widespread in human mothers but its etiology, somewhat surprisingly, remains unclear. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has long been considered a... (Review)
Review
Pregnancy sickness is widespread in human mothers but its etiology, somewhat surprisingly, remains unclear. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has long been considered a prime hormonal suspect, but the correlation between pregnancy sickness and hCG levels is imperfect resulting in uncertainty about its causal role. As others have noted part of this uncertainty likely stems from the structural and functional diversity of hCG. One enigmatic role of hCG is its action as a thyroid stimulator during early gestation. Native hCG is weakly thyrotropic but is produced in prodigious quantities and suppresses the production of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) but not curiously when TSH levels are in the higher deciles. Higher levels of hCG induce higher maternal production of thyroxine (T4). hCG thus appears to augment and sometimes even supplant TSH in the regulation of thyroid hormone in early gestation. This has lead to the suggestion that hCG serves as a backup system, albeit incomplete, for the production of essential thyroid hormone during pregnancy. Another interpretation, however, is that hCG, produced by the embryo, serves as a second control circuit for the thyroid during pregnancy. If so, it serves embryonic interests that are at odds with maternal interests (maternal-embryo conflict) under conditions of iodine deficiency. Iodine is an essential micronutrient for neurodevelopment and thyroid function, and has been in short supply for most humans over most of our evolutionary history. Iodine deficiency during gestation has severe impacts on embryo neuromotor development, but also induces thyroid disease in mothers, impairing her future reproductive prospects. Under this view, embryos use hCG to push mothers to release more thyroid hormone. hCG, however, is produced outside the normal maternal thyroid control circuit and thus is not subject to a normal negative feedback. hCG also serves multiple functions simultaneously therefore its production is likely not fine-tuned for thyroid function per se. hCG levels may remain high even when thyroid hormone production is more than sufficient to meet the needs of mother and embryo. Instead, the system appears to be regulated at the back end by clearing surplus hormone using placental Type II (D2) and Type III (D3) deiodinases. As maternal thyroid hormone levels rise, placental D3 is upregulated, shunting more T4 and T3 into a deactivating pathway. The metabolites that result, particularly the inert metabolite of T4, reverse T3, are correlates of surplus thyroid hormone production and thus are strong candidates for the proximate triggers of pregnancy sickness. Nausea and vomiting of early pregnancy thus arises as a by-product of an antagonistic pleiotropy between mother and embryo over the allocation of iodine: when dietary iodine is scarce, a benefit accrues to the embryo at a cost to mother; when iodine is plentiful, pregnancy sickness ranging from frequently mild to occasionally severe, is a sequelae of undiminished embryonic demands. If pregnancy sickness serves as a marker of thyroid function, an absence of first trimester nausea and vomiting sickness may indicate a higher priority for testing of thyroid function to avert the inimical effects of hypothyroidism during gestation.
Topics: Chorionic Gonadotropin; Female; Humans; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Morning Sickness; Pregnancy; Thyroid Gland; Thyroid Hormones; Thyrotropin
PubMed: 24721478
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2014.03.041 -
The Journal of Maternal-fetal &... Dec 2023Nausea and vomiting affect up to 80% of all pregnancies, sometimes so severely that the condition of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is established. HG may in addition be a... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
Nausea and vomiting affect up to 80% of all pregnancies, sometimes so severely that the condition of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is established. HG may in addition be a predisposing factor for Wernicke encephalopathy (WE), a severe and life-threatening condition due to vitamin B1 (thiamin) deficiency. If untreated, WE may progress to Korsakoff's syndrome, an irreversible cognitive disorder. We reported a case that recently occurred at our clinic and performed a systematic review of the literature to investigate the clinical presentation, maternal and perinatal outcomes and treatment of WE in women with HG.
METHODS
We performed a systematic review of case series and case reports searching the Medline database on Pubmed from inception until December 2021. We used as search terms (Wernicke encephalopathy) OR (Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome) AND (hyperemesis gravidarum) AND (pregnancy) AND (thiamin deficiency). Articles were considered eligible for inclusion in our review if they described at least one case of WE due to thiamin deficiency in relation to HG. An overall of 82 cases of WE due to HG in pregnancy from 66 manuscripts, including our own, were selected.
RESULTS
The maternal mean age was 26.38 ± 5.23 years, while mean gestational week at hospitalization was 14.57 ± 4.12 after a mean of 6.6 ± 3.14 weeks of vomiting duration. WE manifestation occurred at a mean gestational age of 16.54 ± 3.06 weeks. Regarding clinical presentation, ocular signs and symptoms were reported by 77/82 (93.9%) women, 61/82 (74.4%) presented with ataxia and 63/82 (76.8%) with confusion. Dysarthria affected 15/82 women (18,3%), while muscular weakness was present in 36/82 (43.9%) and impaired reflexes in 42/82 (51.2%). Memory impairment involved 25/82 (30.5%) of the study population. Almost all cases reported a thiamin administration treatment, however data regarding the clinical course of the neurological condition and the perinatal outcomes were often missing and showed a great heterogeneity when reported.
CONCLUSION
WE is a challenging diagnosis, as its clinical presentation is nonspecific. A high clinical suspicion and the awareness of its possible predisposing conditions such as HG may help clinicians to get a prompt diagnosis and starting treatment, which are vital to prevent possible life-impairing neurological sequelae.
Topics: Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Young Adult; Adult; Infant; Male; Wernicke Encephalopathy; Hyperemesis Gravidarum; Korsakoff Syndrome; Brain; Thiamine
PubMed: 37322816
DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2023.2223678 -
Current Medicinal Chemistry 2022Thalidomide is an old well-known drug firstly used as morning sickness relief in pregnant women and then withdrawn from the market due to its severe side effects on... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Thalidomide is an old well-known drug firstly used as morning sickness relief in pregnant women and then withdrawn from the market due to its severe side effects on fetal normal development. However, over the last few decades, the interest in this old drug has been renewed because of its efficacy in several important disorders as, for instance, multiple myeloma, breast cancer, and HIV-related diseases due to its antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory properties. Unfortunately, even in these cases, many after effects as deep vein thrombosis, peripheral neuropathy, constipation, somnolence, pyrexia, pain, and teratogenicity have been reported showing the requirement of careful and monitored use. For this reason, research efforts are geared toward the synthesis and optimization of new thalidomide analogues lacking in toxic effects, able to erase these limits and improve the pharmacological profile.
AIMS
This review aims to examine the state-of-the-art concerning the current studies on thalidomide and its analogues towards cancer diseases focusing the attention on the possible mechanisms of action involved and the lack of toxicity.
CONCLUSION
In the light of the collected data, thalidomide analogues and their ongoing optimization could lead, in the future, to the realization of a promising therapeutic alternative for fighting cancer.
Topics: Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Antineoplastic Agents; Female; Humans; Multiple Myeloma; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Pregnancy; Thalidomide
PubMed: 34165402
DOI: 10.2174/0929867328666210623143526