Association between maternal ghrelin levels and hyperemesis gravidarum

Abstract

Aim: To investigate serum levels of ghrelin in pregnant women as a potential early marker for hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at Fatih University Hospital. Included in the study were 35 women with HG and 31 pregnant women without HG as a control group. The groups were compared in terms of age, gravidity, body mass index (BMI), and fasting serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and ghrelin levels. Results: Ghrelin levels of the patients with HG were found to be significantly lower than those in the control group (P = 0.03). No intergroup differences could be found in serum TSH or BMI values. Conclusion: Ghrelin might serve as a reliable marker in the etiopathogenesis of HG. © TÜBITAK.