Åse Vikanes, Rolv Skjærven, Andrej M Grjibovski, Nina Gunnes, Siri Vangen, Per Magnus et al
Vikanes /span>, Skjærven R, Grjibovski A M, Gunnes N, Vangen S, Magnus P et al.
Recurrence of hyperemesis gravidarum across generations: population based cohort study
BMJ 2010; 340 :c2050
doi:10.1136/bmj.c2050
Both Genetic and Environmental Factors are Responsible for Hyperemesis
The article on hyperemesis raises certain questions.The study clearly
establishes the role of genetic factors in the etiology of hyperemesis as
the condition was more common in daughters of mothers who themselves had
hyperemesis during their pregnancies with these daughters than with
pregnancies with their sons. However, genetic factors can't explain all
the cases of hyperemesis. The physical and environmental factors play
equally important role in many cases.Hyperemesis is more common in women
having pregnancies associated with higher levels of human chorionic
gonadotrophins(hCG) as is seen in multiple pregnancies and gestational
trophoblastic neoplasia. Similarly psychological factors play a great role
in the etiology of hyperemesis gravidarum. Fortunately newer highly
effective and safe antiemetics like ondansetron and granisetron are now
available which are very useful in its management.Hence just blaming the
maternal genetic factors for the etiology of hyperemesis is too simplistic
as the condition tends to be multifactorial with different causes possibly
more than one cause being responsible for its etiology.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests