Helicobacter pylori infection amongst Arab Israeli women with hyperemesis gravidarum—a prospective, controlled study

• 24 Arab Israeli women with hyperemesis gravidarum and 48 pregnant controls underwent 13C-urea breath testing.
• Helicobacter pylori infection was identified in 75.0% (18/24) of cases and 60.4% (29/48) of controls.
• H. pylori infection did not correlate with age, fetal sex, or the number of previous pregnancies.
• H. pylori is highly prevalent in pregnant Arab Israeli women, however the organism cannot be considered a risk factor for hyperemesis gravidarum.

SummaryObjectiveHelicobacter pylori has been associated with hyperemesis gravidarum in some geographical regions. The prevalence of H. pylori in Arab Israeli women in the Upper Galilee and its association with hyperemesis gravidarum has not been studied previously. We aimed to examine if hyperemesis gravidarum is associated with H. pylori in this population.MethodsSubjects with hyperemesis gravidarum carrying a singleton fetus were recruited prospectively. Women with an uncomplicated pregnancy served as controls. All patients underwent 13C-urea breath testing to assess for H. pylori infection.ResultsA total of 72 subjects, including 24 patients with hyperemesis gravidarum and 48 controls, aged 28.8 ± 5.3 years, were included. H. pylori infection was identified in 75.0% (18/24) of cases and 60.4% (29/48) of controls (p = not significant). H. pylori infection did not correlate with age, fetal sex, or the number of previous pregnancies (p = not significant).ConclusionH. pylori does not seem to increase the likelihood of hyperemesis gravidarum in Arab Israeli women. However, given the high background prevalence of H. pylori in this population, a larger study is required to corroborate these findings. (MOH20110066)