Managing hyperemesis gravidarum: a multimodal challenge

Abstract

Up to 90% of pregnant women experience nausea and vomiting. When prolonged or severe, this is known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), which can, in individual cases, be life threatening. In this article the aetiology, diagnosis and treatment strategies will be presented based on a selective literature review. Treatment strategies range from outpatient dietary advice and antiemetic drugs to hospitalization and intravenous (IV) fluid replacement in persistent or severe cases. Alternative methods, such as acupuncture, are not yet evidence based but sometimes have a therapeutic effect.

In most cases, the condition is self limiting and subsides by around 20 weeks gestation. More severe forms require medical intervention once other organic causes of nausea and vomiting have been excluded. In addition, a psychosomatic approach is often helpful.

In view of its potential complexity, general practitioners and obstetricians should be well informed about HG and therapy should be multimodal.

Introduction

About 50% - 90% of all pregnancies are accompanied by nausea and vomiting [1]. According to a study of more than 360 pregnant women, only 2% experienced only nausea in the morning whereas, in 80%, complaints persisted throughout the day. The condition is usually self-limiting and peaks at around 9 weeks gestation. At 20 weeks symptoms typically cease. However, in up to 20% of cases, nausea and vomiting may continue until delivery [1].

This condition is known as nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) or emesis gravidarum and is of no pathological significance as long as the affected women do not feel unwell or restricted in their daily life [2]. There are, however, different grades in the scope of NVP, which range from occasional morning-sickness to excessive vomiting that persists throughout the day. The most severe grade of NVP often leads to hyperemesis gravidarum (HG; see below), but it can be difficult to differentiate between the two conditions.

A prospective study of more than 9000 pregnant women showed that NVP occurred significantly more often in primigravidas and in women who were less educated, younger, non-smokers and overweight or obese. The incidence of NVP was also higher in women with a history of nausea and vomiting in a previous pregnancy [3].

In order to exclude differential diagnoses the following crucial parameters should be investigated: Onset of nausea and vomiting (nearly all of the cases begin before 9 weeks of gestation), attendant symptoms, underlying chronic disorders or, in rare cases, hereditary diseases (see Figures 1 and 2) [4].

Figure 1

Differential diagnosis of nausea and vomiting.

Figure 2

Differential diagnosis of nausea and vomiting in respect to abdominal symptoms.

A small percentage of pregnant women experience a severe form of nausea and vomiting that is termed HG (synonym: excessive vomiting during pregnancy). This disorder has an estimated incidence of 0.5% - 2% of all live births [5]. A standard definition of HG is the occurrence of more than three episodes of vomiting per day with ketonuria and more than 3 kg or 5% weight loss. However, the diagnosis is usually made clinically following the exclusion of other causes [6, 7].

HG can, in individual cases, be life threatening and treatment must be initiated immediately. Clinical findings include dehydration, acidosis due to inadequate nutrition, alkalosis due to loss of hydrochloride and hypokalaemia. There are two degrees of severity: (i) grade 1, nausea and vomiting without metabolic imbalance; and (ii) grade 2, pronounced feelings of sickness with metabolic imbalance [2].

In this article the aetiology, diagnosis, clinical presentation and treatment options will be outlined on the basis of a selective literature review.

Aetiology

The aetiology of NVP and hyperemesis in pregnancy is unknown, although some biological, physiological and psychological as well as sociocultural factors are thought to be contributory factors [8]. According to another theory, nausea and vomiting during pregnancy might be an evolutionary adaptation that prevents the intake of potentially noxious food. Such harmful substances may be pathogenic microorganisms in meat and toxins in strong-tasting vegetables and beverages. Thus, by avoiding the ingestion of those toxic components, it is supposed that the embryo is protected from miscarriage. Interviews on more than 5400 pregnant women obtained from 20 studies of gestational aversions, as well as enquiries on more than 6200 pregnant women obtained from 21 studies of gestational cravings, show that most women during pregnancy prefer food categories that are less likely to contain toxic substances [9]. However, severe forms of NVP (such as HG) always require medical intervention.

Risk factors for HG include multiple pregnancy, nulliparity, obesity, metabolic disturbances, a history of HG in a previous pregnancy, trophoblastic disorders, psychological disorders (for example, eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia) and a history of migration [10–12].

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG)

HCG is the most likely endocrine factor which accounts for the development of HG. This conclusion is based on observed associations between increased production of HCG (as in molar or in multiple pregnancies) [13–15] and the fact that the incidence of hyperemesis is highest at the time when HCG production reaches its peak during pregnancy (around 9 weeks gestation) [13]. However, there is no evidence to support this hypothesis and some pregnant women do not experience nausea and vomiting despite elevated HCG-levels. In addition, patients suffering from chorionic carcinoma - a disease that is also associated with an increase in HCG - do not usually experience vomiting. These controversial findings may be caused by the varying biological activity of different isoforms of HCG as well as an individual sensitivity for emetogenic stimuli. Additionally, hormone-receptor interactions may modify the effects of HCG leading to hyperemesis in some cases but having no emetic consequences in others [5].

Helicobacter pylori infection

Chronic infection with helicobacter pylori may also cause HG [16–22]. The histological examination of the gastric mucosa in a total of 30 women (20 HG patients and 10 pregnant volunteers) showed that the bacterium was present in almost 95% of patients with hyperemesis but in only 50% of controls. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P = 0.009) [16]. In a metaanalysis of 14 case-control studies, which included a total of 1732 patients and controls, an association between the presence of helicobacter pylori and HG was suggested, although not all of the analysed studies reached statistical significance [odds ratio from 0.55 to 109.33, confidence interval (CI) 95%] [6]. Nevertheless, in one study examining both saliva (61.8% detection of helicobacter pylori in patients with HG versus 27.6% in symptom-free pregnant women) and serum (52.9% versus 20.7%) for the bacterium results were significant (P < 0.0001, CI 95%) [17], as were cytotoxin-associated gene A and serum findings in a Chinese study [19]. Two observational studies of five patients with HG reported no improvement in symptoms in response to standard drug treatment. However, a marked response was seen following antibiotic treatment (erythromycin) for helicobacter pylori [18, 22]. Therefore, although a helicobacter pylori infection might not be the only cause of HG, it should be taken into consideration as a contributing factor in intractable cases of this condition.

Hormonal factors

Several hormones may cause hyperemesis. These are oestrogen, progesterone, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, growth hormone and prolactin. Evidence for the involvement of serotonin in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting was found some years ago [23, 24] implying that this hormone might also play an important role in HG but findings have been inconsistent: In a prospective study on a total of 33 women (13 patients suffering from hyperemesis, 10 healthy pregnant women and 10 nongravid women) serotonin levels were evaluated. The results showed no differences between the three groups [25].

Progesterone

Lower [12] and elevated [26] progesterone levels have been reported in patients with hyperemesis. These alterations are caused by pregnancy-associated changes in the mother's immune system: In a prospective study on 44 pregnant women (22 patients with hyperemesis and 22 matching healthy pregnant women) a significant increase in plasma progesterone levels was shown in women with hyperemesis compared to women without the condition (P < 0.05). A potentially emetogenic elevation of HCG due to these modifications is proposed [12]. Lower progesterone levels were found in a prospectively controlled study with 62 NVP subjects versus 40 nonaffected pregnant women (P < 0.02) [12]. However, several other studies found no association between serum progesterone concentration and hyperemesis [14, 27]. Progesterone may cause reduced gastrointestinal motility during pregnancy [28]. Gastric dysrhythmias (tachygastria, bradygastria) may also occur [29], thus contributing to hyperemesis.

Oestrogens

Increased levels of oestrogen and oestradiol are known to cause nausea and vomiting in pregnancy [30]. Hence, the presence of a female foetus is associated with severe nausea and vomiting [31, 32] usually explained by a raised concentration of oestrogen in utero [31]. This is consistent with the observation that oestrogen treatment can cause nausea. It has been suggested that patients with hyperemesis are probably more sensitive to oestrogen effects than asymptomatic pregnant women [12]. Cigarette smokers usually show lower levels of both oestrogens and HCG. Consistently, HG occurs less often in women who smoke [33, 34]. However, some studies have reported negative results regarding the association between elevated oestrogen levels and the development of hyperemesis [35].

Hyperthyroidism

Thyroid function is physiologically altered during pregnancy, including stimulation by HCG [36]. Hyperthyroidism with normal fT3 and fT4 levels, but decreased levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), may also be implicated in HG [37, 38]. A self-limiting, transient hyperthyroidism of hyperemesis gravidarum (THHG) has been proposed according to the findings of a screening series in 1900 pregnant women who showed markedly increased HCG and fT4 levels [36]. THHG may persist until 18 weeks gestation and does not require treatment. This condition may be partly caused by the high levels of HCG that are often seen in patients with HG since HCG and TSH have a very similar protein structure, thus enabling HCG to act like TRH and hyper-stimulate the thyroid, which recently has been shown conclusively [39, 40].

Assignment of a diagnosis of THHG requires the following [2]:

• pathological serology results during hyperemesis

• a negative history of hyperthyroidism before the pregnancy

• the absence of thyroid antibodies

Psychosomatic approach

Several years ago the theory of underlying psychological alterations as main causative factor for HG was proposed [41]. This was partly thought to be due to a lack of evidence of any straight biological pathophysiological pathway [42], partly due to the finding that many patients seem to need psychological help to cope with the condition.

Not only is their physical identity profoundly changed by the pregnancy but also their daily social life. One former commonly used explication for development of HG was a psychiatric explanation of vomiting as a subconscious wish for an abortion or - in a different approach - a conversion disorder underlying the condition [43].

Although this might be the cause in individual cases, nowadays the generally accepted opinion is that severe psychological afflictions are a consequence of constant vomiting rather than the source of it [8, 13]. Such a psychiatric sequel may continue even postpartum [10]. Perhaps as a reaction to the psychological strain of the patients, during the last years psychological treatment approaches seem to increase to a varying extent in different countries [44].

Davis et al. found no differences in the incidence of HG in association with marital status, whether or not the pregnancy was desired, or the patient's attitude towards the pregnancy [45]. The most frequently cited study used the psychological Cornell Medical Index to assess 44 pregnant women with, and 49 pregnant women without, HG [35]. A further study used the MMPI to assess patients with HG [46]. Both studies showed that women with hyperemesis had an excessive emotional bond to their mothers and that the main types of personality were hysterical and infantile. Additionally, a systematic questionnaire based on interviews with 23 hospitalized women with HG showed suppressed ambivalent feelings of the expectant mothers towards their pregnancies that were expressed in severe vomiting [47], but this association has not been proven to a sufficient extent [42]. Based on a case control study in more than 11,000 pregnant women an association between pre-pregnancy diagnosed psychiatric conditions (for example, depression, anxiety or drug abuse) and HG was seen (P < 0.001) [48]. However, these studies have to be evaluated critically because of a potential methodological weakness [42].

More recent approaches assume that neither a merely physical pathway nor a completely psychological pathomechanism can cause such a complex disease but on the contrary HG is a multifactorial condition. Focusing entirely on psychogenic factors raises the risk that patients are not taken seriously in their suffering and probably not all existing therapeutic options are used. However, neglecting the psychosomatic aspects in the development and course of HG in some patients harbours the risk of treating only the symptoms of the condition without eliminating the cause.

Medical history and clinical presentation

Clinical symptoms are usually non-specific and it is important to exclude the more unusual causes of nausea and vomiting. These include peptic ulceration, hepatitis, pancreatitis, thyroid disease, gastrointestinal obstruction and adrenocortical insufficiency (see Table 1) [13]. An onset of symptoms after 10 weeks gestation is atypical for NVP and systematic exclusion of the diseases mentioned above is particularly important in such cases.

Table 1 Diseases associated with nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (alphabetical order), adapted from reference [2].

NVP usually has very few attendant symptoms other than fatigue, exhaustion and indisposition. Pyrexia, gastric pain, headache or neurologic signs point to other causes, although the latter finding may, in rare cases, result from severe and prolonged NVP (for example, Wernicke's encephalopathy or central pontine myelinolysis). In the case of elevated thyroid hormones, it is important to distinguish between THHG and primary thyroid disease. Furthermore, chronic underlying conditions that may have been exacerbated or unmasked by the pregnancy should be excluded [5].

Metabolic ketoacidosis and ketonaemia (acetone-like breath) may also occur with occasional pyrexia and hepatic symptoms (for example, jaundice). In some cases, drowsiness and intellectual slowness are present and this may lead to delirium. Laboratory investigations should include haematocrit, electrolytes, transaminases, bilirubin and thyroid function tests as well as urinary status (presence or absence of ketone bodies, specific weight, pH). In addition, ultrasonography should be performed in order to exclude multiple pregnancy, trophoblastic disorders and neoplasias. If a psychic component of the disorder is suspected, ultrasound scans should not be repeated too often as this may aggravate psychosomatic symptoms [49].

In order to diagnose underlying psychological factors, a psychosomatic dialogue aiming at the formation of a working alliance between patient and physician is essential [50]. This often reveals a stressful and intolerable situation in the patient's social environment that she is unable to escape from or avoid. This psychosocial distress is then converted into a somatic symptom [51]. In the case of persistent vomiting or conspicuous symptoms the psychological differential diagnosis should include deep and defended psychic conflicts [2].

Treatment strategies

Treatment strategies for HG should be based on the severity of symptoms and multimodal in nature (advice, hydration, medication, hospitalization and psychosomatic counselling when necessary; see Figure 3). The severity of the condition can be assessed by numerous questionnaires. Two of the most widely used questionnaires are the Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea (PUQE) scoring index, which assesses nausea and vomiting over 12 h, and the PUQE-24, an extension of the original PUQE, which assesses symptoms over 24 h [52, 53]. Another recently developed score is the Hyperemesis Impact of Symptoms Questionnaire (HIS) that brings into focus not only physical but also psychosocial factors in order to assess the impact of HG holistically [54].

Figure 3

Multimodal character of treatment strategies in hyperemesis gravidarum, adapted from reference [2].

Initial management

For initial management, dietary and lifestyle advice is often sufficient to ameliorate symptoms and improve quality of life. Mild forms of nausea and vomiting can usually be managed by following general nutritional advice such as the intake of small amounts of fluids and food throughout the day rather than eating fewer but larger meals. Foods should be rich on carbohydrates and low in fat and acid [2]. Light snacks, nuts, dairy products, beans and dry and salty biscuits are also frequently recommended. Additionally, electrolyte-replacement drinks and oral nutritional supplements are advisable for ensuring maintenance of electrolyte balance and an adequate intake of calories. Protein-predominant meals have a positive effect because they are eupeptic and are able to reduce nausea more effectively than equicaloric carbohydrate and fat meals or noncaloric meals [55]. If the smell of hot food triggers nausea, cold food should be prepared instead. Lifestyle advice may include avoiding stress and resting in the event of incipient nausea.

Emotional support and, if needed, psychosomatic care administered by a psychologist or a medical doctor with training in psychosomatics can be helpful. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, supportive counselling or crisis intervention might be required [2].

Medication

If symptoms cannot be managed by dietary and lifestyle changes alone, low dose antiemetics may be administered. All pharmacologic interventions should be based upon known safety, proven efficacy and cost effectiveness [56].

In a metaanalysis of 28 randomized trials of medications for the treatment of HG, antiemetics diminished nausea in early pregnancy and were superior to placebo [2]. Ondansetron is one of the more commonly used and effective drugs and has relatively few side effects [13, 57, 58].

Other recommended options are the use of metoclopramide to improve gastrointestinal motility and administration of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) [59]. Pyridoxine is given three times daily at a dose of 10 - 25 mg starting with a low dose that may reduce symptoms and has been proven to be more effective than placebo [13, 60]. The daily dose can be increased up to 200 mg without side effects [61, 62]. However, a more recent placebo-controlled trial demonstrated that a combination of oral pyridoxine and metoclopramide did not improve the vomiting frequency or the nausea score [63].

Antihistamines and anticholinergics such as meclizine, dimenhydrinate and diphenhydramine have also been shown to be superior to placebo and can be used safely for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (see Table 2) [64].

Table 2 Antiemetic agents and supposed dosage in hyperemesis gravidarum, adapted from references [13, 62, 98]

However, the side effect profiles vary between the different medications: While nearly all of the above mentioned medicaments may cause dizziness, drowsiness, constipation or dry mouth, more severe adverse effects comprise convulsions, decreased alertness, heartbeat alterations and hallucinations (doxylamine, metoclopramide, diphenhydramine, dimenhydrinate, promethazine). Headache, muscle pain or tremor and fever (prednisolone, procholrperazine, promethazine, dimenhydrinate, doxylamine, metoclopramide) may also occur.

Interestingly, diazepam also has positive effects on HG, probably due to its sedative properties [65]. A prospective randomized clinical trial in 74 patients showed that a combination of antiemetic therapy and diazepam reduced the need for hospitalization and improved patient satisfaction [56]. Frequent use of diazepam, however, might lead to dependency. Another risk factor that must be taken into consideration is the possibility of fetal side effects [2, 66]. Antidepressants such as mirtazapine have also been used with some success in ameliorating the symptoms of HG [67].

Non-pharmacological interventions

Alternative treatments include acupressure, especially on the P6 point (Neiguan) on the inside of the wrist [68, 69]. However, despite several trials, there is still minimal experimental evidence that acupuncture is effective in relieving the symptoms of HG., A supplement that may be helpful is ginger. In a trial of 66 women ginger (1 g/day) compared to placebo was shown to be of benefit for those suffering from both nausea and vomiting [70]. Another prospective study of 187 pregnant women with symptoms of NVP showed that ginger had a mild effect in ameliorating nausea and vomiting without negative effects on the fetus [71]. Available data show that ginger has no apparent teratogenic potential and can be used safely up to a daily dose of 1 gram [5, 62, 72–75].

Hospitalization

In patients with more severe dehydration or ketonuria, inpatient admission is required (see Figure 3). Sometimes hospitalization alone is sufficient to improve symptoms ('holding function') because it may provide psychological relief. However, the treatment of dehydration is considered to be of paramount importance [13].

The primary therapeutic step is total food withdrawal. Maintaining hydration or, in the case of severe dehydration achieving quick and sufficient rehydration, is the most important intervention. Volume and electrolyte replacement (at least 3 L/day), correction of potential electrolyte imbalance, administration of vitamins and parenteral administration of carbohydrate and amino acid solutions (about 8400 to 10,500 kJ/d) are recommended (see Table 3). Rehydration is most easily and quickly accomplished intravenously and this reduces adverse symptoms very effectively.

Table 3 Recommended procedure for substitution of vitamins during total parenteral nutrition (personal communication Ramsauer and Vetter, Berlin, Germany).

Although peripheral catheters are considered to be advantageous, a study of 94 patients with HG reported the occurrence of a substantial number of complications in association with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC lines) compared to treatment with medication only. This suggests that invasive treatment options should be thoroughly investigated before being introduced [76]. Major complications associated with PICC lines are infections and thrombosis or endocarditis. In a retrospective study of 85 pregnant women with central catheters, 25% developed serious complications including infections (12%) [77]. To date, no fetal or maternal medical benefit has been found for PICC lines in comparison to serial peripheral catheters and the use of central catheters is only recommended in exceptional cases [78].

An alternative to parenteral nutrition may be nasogastric feeding tubes because, in cases of intractable nausea and vomiting, they seem to relieve symptoms and provide adequate nutritional support [79]. Another advantage of enteral feeding via nasogastric tubes in comparison to parenteral nutrition is that enteral feeding is more cost effective [80]. In order to determine whether an underlying helicobacter pylori infection is (partially) causative, helicobacter pylori testing may be performed. In the event of a positive result, H2 blockers (for example, cimetidine) or proton pump inhibitors (for example, omeprazol) can be added to infusions [20, 81–83].

If hyperemesis is refractory to treatment, corticoids (for example, hydrocortisone) may also be used [84]. Corticosteroids are considered to be safe and have no known adverse effects for the fetus. IV administration may be preferable to oral administration, particularly in refractory cases, as the effect is greater and more rapid [84].

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) may be useful in highly refractory cases in order to ensure a sufficient calorie intake [85]. However, there is no evidence to support the use of TPN and it should only be used as a last resort when all other treatments have failed, as it can be associated with severe complications such as thrombosis, metabolic disturbances and infection [86].

In patients with persistent symptoms, other disorders should be excluded (see Figures 1 and 2). Treatment should be continued until vomiting ceases or occurs less than three times a day. Subsequent food reintroduction should be carried out gradually [2].

Psychosomatic therapeutic options

Psychosomatic therapies involve dialogues between the physician and the pregnant woman to evaluate the psychosocial situation in her marital relationship, activate individual resources and provide support regarding acceptance of the pregnancy. On the basis of anamnestic data, other proper therapeutic options such as hypnotherapy, psychotherapy or behavioural therapy may be considered. In approximately 90% of all women hospitalized for HG, symptoms ameliorate without any further therapeutic intervention. This may be due to inpatient nursing support and relief from overstraining, as well as to being removed from the conflict-causing environment. Nevertheless, consideration of psychosocial factors while making the diagnosis may improve long-term treatment outcome [87].

Pregnancy outcome and prognosis

In most cases, nausea and vomiting during pregnancy is self limiting and is usually resolved by around 20 weeks gestation [13]. Interestingly, it is consistently associated with lower rates of miscarriage, retarded intrauterine growth and preterm delivery and fetal outcomes are, in most cases, excellent [11, 88–90].

Other causes of severe distress in these patients include loss of time from work and a reduced quality of life [1]. An investigation of 147 patients evaluated the impact of NVP on family, social and occupational functioning as well as quality of life. It found that 82.8% of patients were limited in their usual daily activities, not only by the presence of constant nausea and frequent vomiting, but also by the psychological burden of not feeling well for several weeks or months [91]. Another stressful aspect of the disorder is the change of the patient's role within her social or occupational environment: Many women feel helpless and incapable and misunderstood by their relatives. Family problems range from neglect of the household to negative alterations in the relationship between the pregnant woman and her spouse. Social functioning is often affected, with a reduction in social commitments, partly due to feelings of embarrassment. Most patients with severe NVP or HG miss at least a few weeks of their paid employment and report that they are less attentive to their work [91].

NVP and HG may cause considerable direct (for example, medication) and indirect (for example, loss of productivity) costs, which can amount to hundreds of dollars. These costs apply not only to the patients, but also to society and the health care system [92]. More serious medical complications include the Mallory-Weiss syndrome (acute increase in oesophageal pressure due to vomiting) and oesophageal rupture (due to severe vomiting), pneumothorax, peripheral neuropathy, coagulopathy, Wernicke's encephalopathy (due to lack of thiamine), pre-eclampsia and fetal growth retardation [11, 13, 93–95].

The psychosomatic aspects of hyperemesis should also be considered. Interestingly, psychosocial morbidity for the mother often presents in the form of secondary depression, which affects up to 7% of patients with HG [10, 96]. Therefore, adequate assessment, observation, and treatment of a possible psychosomatic disorder should also be considered.

Conclusions

Since the causal factors of HG are multifarious, treatment of this condition should be multimodal, ranging from dietary and lifestyle advice to psychosomatic counselling or psychoanalytic therapy. Administration of antiemetic drugs may be necessary, as well as IV fluid replacement, food administration via nasogastric or parenteral routes in severe cases. Since this condition is accompanied by a significant reduction in quality of life for the patient and high costs to the healthcare system, general practitioners and obstetricians should ensure that they are well informed about this condition [97] so that they are able to provide advice, counselling and effective medication to pregnant women and thus prevent the exacerbation of symptoms.