Embargoed for Release Until: Monday, October 16, 2000
Contact: Sharon Burns 202-973-2934
Stacey Ward 202-973-5879[email protected]
Infection with Helicobacter pylori Linked to Severe Morning Sickness
NEW YORK, October 16, 2000 -- Puerto Rican researchers detected an association between Helicobacter pylori infection and severe morning sickness during early pregnancy. Lead investigator Nilda Santiago, M.D., of Ponce Gastroenterology Research in Ponce, Puerto Rico, will present the findings at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), October 16 -- 18th.
Dr. Santiago and colleagues recruited 45 women who had been pregnant for 6 to 16 weeks and who complained of severe morning sickness. These patients were matched with 44 pregnant women who did not have symptoms of nausea or vomiting. Blood tests determined the presence of H. pylori infection in 89 percent of the women with severe morning sickness but in only 7 percent of the women without morning sickness symptoms. The difference in the levels of infection between the two groups was highly significant (p<0.001).
"Most women experience nausea or vomiting in the early weeks of pregnancy," said Dr. Santiago. "But our study focused on severe morning sickness, which we defined as nausea and vomiting experienced daily. If the association with H. pylori infection bears out, then women's suffering may be alleviated by proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment." The bacterium is routinely found in the stomach, and causes ulcers in a minority of infected patients.
"H. pylori infection is one of the most common human infections in the world," said Dr. Santiago. "Women who wish to become pregnant may want to be tested for the infection and treated, if necessary, to attempt to avoid the symptoms of severe morning sickness, which for some women can last throughout the pregnancy."
Studies of pregnant women, outside North America, with very severe morning sickness (known as hyperemesis gravidarum) have had similar, statistically significant results. A 1997-1998 Turkish study of 211 women and a 1995-1996 Austrian study of 234 women both found that women with very severe morning sickness were much more likely than women without such symptoms to have H. pylori infection.
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The ACG was formed in 1932 to advance the scientific study and medical treatment of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The College promotes the highest standards in medical education and is guided by its commitment to meeting the needs of clinical gastroenterology practitioners. Consumers can get more information on gastrointestinal disorders through the following ACG-sponsored programs:
* 1-800-978-7666 (free brochures on common gastrointestinal disorders, including ulcers, colon cancer, gallstones, and liver disease)* 1-800-HRT-BURN (free brochure and video on heartburn and GERD) * www.acg.gi.org (ACG's Web site).
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