BACKGROUND
To evaluate the serum inflammatory markers in the first trimester in which hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) usually occurs and in the late second trimester when symptoms of HG usually resolve.
MATERIALS and METHODS
The study population consisted of 170 pregnant women with HG and 185 healthy gestational-age-matched controls. White blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) were compared during the first and the late second trimester.
RESULTS
In the first trimester, WBC (9.25 (2.90)×103/μl vs. 8.25 (2.35)×103/μl, p=0.001), NLR (4.54 (2.86) vs. 3.66 (1.25), p=0.021), and PLR (155.79 (69.33) vs. 128.75 (50.09), p=0.001) for the HG and control groups, respectively. In the late second trimester, WBC (11.31 (2.31)×103/μl vs. 10.03 (3.67)×103/μl, p=0.001), NLR (4.89 (1.58) vs. 4.05 (1.45), p= 0.01), and PLR (135.28 (61.41) vs. 119.10 (55.66), p=0.032) for the HG and control groups, respectively.
CONCLUSION
HG may be related to subclinical systemic inflammation that persists even after complete recovery.
Keywords: Hyperemesis gravidarum, nausea, vomiting, inflammation, etiology