ABSTRACT
Hyperemesis gravidarum (HEG), associated with pregnancy, is a severe form of nausea
and vomiting causing decrease in nutrient antioxidants. Hence, we hypothesize that
oxidation injury may be involved in the pathogenesis of HEG. Plasma levels of the
ubiquitous antioxidant, reduced glutathione (GSH) may serve as a sensitive measure
for systemic oxidative stress. Women with pregnancies complicated by HEG (study group)
were compared with pregnant women without HEG (pregnant control group) and with healthy
nonpregnant women (nonpregnant control group). Plasma GSH levels were determined in
the study group at the time of admission to hospital, and when the vomiting had ceased,
it was compared with those of the two control groups. Plasma GSH levels were significantly
higher in the pregnant control group than in nonpregnant controls (6.13 ± 2.9 μM vs.
1.01 ± 0.3 μM p <0.01). In contrast, values in the HEG women at the time of admission were significantly
lower than the pregnant controls (3.12 ± 1.6 μM, p <0.01). At the second sampling, when the women had ceased vomiting, plasma GSH values
were higher than at the acute stage of the illness and were no longer significantly
different from the pregnant control group (4.43 ± 1.6 μM). Low values of plasma GSH
in HEG patients suggest that oxidative stress is associated with this condition.
KEYWORD
Hyperemesis gravidarum - oxidative stress - glutathione
