Investigation of serum Agouti-related peptide levels in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum

Abstract

Objective

Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) is an orexigenic neuropeptide secreted by the hypothalamus that plays a key role in stimulating appetite and increasing food intake. This study aimed to evaluate circulating AgRP levels in pregnant women diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).

Methods

This cross-sectional case-control study compared serum AgRP levels between two groups of pregnant women. The first group included 44 women aged 18–40 years who were hospitalized during the first trimester due to HG, while the control group consisted of 44 healthy pregnant women without HG, matched for age, body mass index (BMI), and gestational age.

Results

Both groups were similar in terms of age, BMI, gravida, parity, and gestational week at which blood samples were taken (p > 0.05 for all). Median serum AgRP level was 211.67 ng/L in the HG group and 182.14 ng/L in the control group (p=0.073). There was a significant positive correlation between AgRP level and maternal BMI as well as urinary ketone positivity (r=0.326, r=0.334, r=0.536, r=0.335; p<0.05, respectively).

Conclusion

In this study, serum AgRP levels did not differ significantly between the HG and control groups. Although these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the limited sample size, they suggest that AgRP may not play a central role in the pathogenesis of HG. Further prospective studies with larger cohorts are warranted to better elucidate this potential association.

Keywords

Agouti-related peptide - hyperemesis gravidarum - nausea - pregnancy - vomiting

Publication History

Received: 29 July 2025

Accepted after revision: 08 January 2026

Article published online:
09 February 2026

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