(See also Nausea and Vomiting During Early Pregnancy Nausea and Vomiting During Early Pregnancy Nausea and vomiting affect up to 80% of pregnant women. Symptoms are most common and most severe during the 1st trimester. Although common usage refers to morning sickness, nausea, vomiting... read more .)
Pregnancy frequently causes nausea and vomiting; the cause appears to be rapidly increasing levels of estrogens or the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG). Vomiting usually develops at about 5 weeks gestation, peaks at about 9 weeks, and disappears by about 16 or 18 weeks. It is often called morning sickness, but it can occur any time of day. Women with normal nausea and vomiting during pregnancy usually continue to gain weight and do not become dehydrated.
Hyperemesis gravidarum is an extreme form of normal nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. It can be distinguished because it causes the following:
Weight loss (> 5% of weight)
Dehydration
Ketosis
Electrolyte abnormalities (in many women)
As dehydration progresses, it can cause tachycardia and hypotension.
Hyperemesis gravidarum may cause mild, transient hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism is characterized by hypermetabolism and elevated serum levels of free thyroid hormones. Symptoms include palpitations, fatigue, weight loss, heat intolerance, anxiety, and tremor... read more 
. Hyperemesis gravidarum that persists past 16 to 18 weeks is uncommon but may seriously damage the liver, causing severe centrilobular necrosis or widespread fatty degeneration, and may cause Wernicke encephalopathy Wernicke Encephalopathy Wernicke encephalopathy is characterized by acute onset of confusion, nystagmus, partial ophthalmoplegia, and ataxia due to thiamin deficiency. Diagnosis is primarily clinical. The disorder... read more or esophageal rupture Esophageal Rupture Esophageal rupture may be iatrogenic during endoscopic procedures or other instrumentation or may be spontaneous (Boerhaave syndrome). Patients are seriously ill, with symptoms of mediastinitis... read more 
.
Diagnosis of Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Sometimes serial weight measurements
Urine ketones
Serum electrolytes and renal function tests
Clinicians suspect hyperemesis gravidarum based on symptoms (eg, onset, duration, and frequency of vomiting; exacerbating and relieving factors; type and amount of emesis). Serial weight measurements can support the diagnosis.
If hyperemesis gravidarum is suspected, urine ketones, thyroid-stimulating hormone, serum electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), magnesium, and phosphorus are measured. Obstetric ultrasonography should be done to rule out hydatidiform mole Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Gestational trophoblastic disease is proliferation of trophoblastic tissue in pregnant or recently pregnant women. Manifestations may include excessive uterine enlargement, vomiting, vaginal... read more 
and check for multifetal pregnancy Multifetal Pregnancy Multifetal pregnancy is presence of > 1 fetus in the uterus. Multifetal (multiple) pregnancy occurs in up to 1 of 30 deliveries. Risk factors for multiple pregnancy include Ovarian stimulation... read more .
Differential diagnosis
Other disorders that can cause vomiting must be excluded; they include gastroenteritis Overview of Gastroenteritis Gastroenteritis is inflammation of the lining of the stomach and small and large intestines. Most cases are infectious, although gastroenteritis may occur after ingestion of drugs and chemical... read more , hepatitis Overview of Acute Viral Hepatitis Acute viral hepatitis is diffuse liver inflammation caused by specific hepatotropic viruses that have diverse modes of transmission and epidemiologies. A nonspecific viral prodrome is followed... read more , appendicitis Appendicitis Appendicitis is acute inflammation of the vermiform appendix, typically resulting in abdominal pain, anorexia, and abdominal tenderness. Diagnosis is clinical, often supplemented by CT or ultrasonography... read more 
, cholecystitis Acute Cholecystitis Acute cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder that develops over hours, usually because a gallstone obstructs the cystic duct. Symptoms include right upper quadrant pain and tenderness... read more , other biliary tract disorders, peptic ulcer disease Peptic Ulcer Disease A peptic ulcer is an erosion in a segment of the gastrointestinal mucosa, typically in the stomach (gastric ulcer) or the first few centimeters of the duodenum (duodenal ulcer), that penetrates... read more 
, intestinal obstruction Intestinal Obstruction Intestinal obstruction is significant mechanical impairment or complete arrest of the passage of contents through the intestine due to pathology that causes blockage of the bowel. Symptoms include... read more 
, hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism is characterized by hypermetabolism and elevated serum levels of free thyroid hormones. Symptoms include palpitations, fatigue, weight loss, heat intolerance, anxiety, and tremor... read more not caused by hyperemesis gravidarum (eg, caused by Graves disease), gestational trophoblastic disease Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Gestational trophoblastic disease is proliferation of trophoblastic tissue in pregnant or recently pregnant women. Manifestations may include excessive uterine enlargement, vomiting, vaginal... read more , nephrolithiasis, pyelonephritis Acute pyelonephritis Bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs) can involve the urethra, prostate, bladder, or kidneys. Symptoms may be absent or include urinary frequency, urgency, dysuria, lower abdominal pain... read more , diabetic ketoacidosis Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute metabolic complication of diabetes characterized by hyperglycemia, hyperketonemia, and metabolic acidosis. Hyperglycemia causes an osmotic diuresis with... read more or gastroparesis, benign intracranial hypertension Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Idiopathic intracranial hypertension causes increased intracranial pressure without a mass lesion or hydrocephalus, probably by obstructing venous drainage; cerebrospinal fluid composition is... read more , and migraine headaches Migraine Migraine is an episodic primary headache disorder. Symptoms typically last 4 to 72 hours and may be severe. Pain is often unilateral, throbbing, worse with exertion, and accompanied by symptoms... read more .
Prominent symptoms in addition to nausea and vomiting often suggest another cause.
Tests for alternative diagnoses are done based on laboratory, clinical, or ultrasound findings.
Treatment of Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Temporary suspension of oral intake, followed by gradual resumption
Fluids, thiamin, multivitamins, and electrolytes as needed
Antiemetics if needed
Rarely, total parenteral nutrition
At first, patients are given nothing by mouth. Initial treatment is IV fluid resuscitation, beginning with 2 L of Ringer's lactate infused over 3 hours to maintain a urine output of > 100 mL/hour. If dextrose is given, thiamin 100 mg should be given IV first, to prevent Wernicke encephalopathy. This dose of thiamin should be given daily for 3 days.
Subsequent fluid requirements vary with patient response but may be as much as 1 L every 4 hours or so for up to 3 days.
Electrolyte deficiencies are treated; potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus are replaced as needed. Care must be taken not to correct low plasma sodium levels too quickly because too rapid correction can cause osmotic demyelination syndrome.
Vomiting that persists after initial fluid and electrolyte replacement is treated with antiemetics and other medications taken as needed:
Vitamin B6 10 to 25 mg orally every 8 hours or every 6 hours
Doxylamine 12.5 mg orally every 8 hours or every 6 hours (can be taken in addition to vitamin B6)
Promethazine 12.5 to 25 mg orally, IM, or rectally every 4 to 8 hours
Metoclopramide 5 to 10 mg IV or orally every 6 to 8 hours
Ondansetron 8 mg orally or IM every 12 hours (for use before 10 weeks gestation, potential risks of congenital defects should be considered)
Prochlorperazine 5 to 10 mg orally, IV, or IM every 6 hours OR 25 mg rectally 2 times a day, as needed
After dehydration and acute vomiting resolve, small amounts of oral fluids are given. Patients who cannot tolerate any oral fluids after IV rehydration and antiemetics may need to be hospitalized or given IV therapy at home and take nothing by mouth for a longer period (sometimes several days or more). Once patients tolerate fluids, they can eat small, bland meals, and diet is expanded as tolerated. IV vitamin therapy is required initially and until vitamins can be taken by mouth.
If treatment is ineffective, corticosteroids may be tried; eg, methylprednisolone 16 mg every 8 hours orally or IV may be given for 3 days, then tapered over 2 weeks to the lowest effective dose. Corticosteroids should be used for < 6 weeks and with extreme caution. They should not be used during fetal organogenesis (between 20 and 56 days after fertilization); use of these drugs during the 1st trimester is weakly associated with facial clefting. The mechanism for corticosteroids’ effect on nausea is unclear. In extreme cases, total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has been used, although its use is generally discouraged.
Rarely, progressive weight loss, jaundice, or persistent tachycardia may occur despite treatment. In such cases,termination of the pregnancy may be offered, if it is available.
Key Points
Hyperemesis gravidarum is severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that, unlike morning sickness, can cause weight loss, ketosis, dehydration, and sometimes electrolyte abnormalities.
Exclude other disorders that can cause vomiting based on the woman's symptoms.
Determine severity by measuring serum electrolytes, urine ketones, BUN, creatinine, and body weight.
Suspend oral intake at first, give fluids and nutrients IV, restore oral intake gradually, and give antiemetics as needed.
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Drug Name | Select Trade |
|---|---|
human chorionic gonadotropin |
Novarel, Ovidrel, Pregnyl |
urea |
Aluvea , BP-50% Urea , BP-K50, Carmol, CEM-Urea, Cerovel, DermacinRx Urea, Epimide-50, Gord Urea, Gordons Urea, Hydro 35 , Hydro 40, Kerafoam, Kerafoam 42, Keralac, Keralac Nailstik, Keratol, Keratol Plus, Kerol, Kerol AD, Kerol ZX, Latrix, Mectalyte, Nutraplus, RE Urea 40, RE Urea 50 , Rea Lo, Remeven, RE-U40, RYNODERM , U40, U-Kera, Ultra Mide 25, Ultralytic-2, Umecta, Umecta Nail Film, URALISS, Uramaxin , Uramaxin GT, Urea, Ureacin-10, Ureacin-20, Urealac , Ureaphil, Uredeb, URE-K , Uremez-40, Ure-Na, Uresol, Utopic, Vanamide, Xurea, X-VIATE |
dextrose |
Advocate Glucose SOS, BD Glucose, Dex4 Glucose, Glutol , Glutose 15 , Glutose 45 , Glutose 5 |
doxylamine |
Aldex AN, Doxytex, Unisom |
promethazine |
Anergan-50, Pentazine , Phenadoz , Phenergan, Phenergan Fortis, Prometh Plain, Promethegan |
metoclopramide |
Gimoti, Metozolv, Reglan |
ondansetron |
Zofran, Zofran in Dextrose, Zofran ODT, Zofran Solution, Zuplenz |
prochlorperazine |
Compazine, Compazine Rectal, Compazine Solution, Compazine Syrup, Compro |
methylprednisolone |
A-Methapred, Depmedalone-40, Depmedalone-80 , Depo-Medrol, Medrol, Medrol Dosepak, Solu-Medrol |
