Correlation between Helicobacter pylori and serum levels of ghrelin, obestatin, leptin and motilin in hyperemesis gravidarum

INTRODUCTION: Hyperemesis gravidarum (HEG) is the severe form of nausea and vomiting seen in pregnancy. Many factors are thought to affect the development of the disease however, the pathogenesis of HEG has not been clearly revealed yet. In this study, we aimed to evaluate serum ghrelin, obestatin, leptin, motilin levels and their relationship with Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) in the patients diagnosed with HEG.
METHODS: A total of 160 patients including 48 HEG patients, 57 asymptomatic pregnant women, and 55 healthy non-pregnant women aged between 18-40 years, who were admitted to our tertiary research hospital were included in the study, Gastrointestinal hormone levels compared between three groups and the HEG group divided by the H.pylori seropositivity and hormone levels were compared between H.pylori positive and negative patients.
RESULTS: In the HEG group, the mean serum ghrelin level was significantly lower and the mean leptin level was significantly higher than the asymptomatic pregnant and non-pregnant control groups (p=0.0001 and p=0.0001). The mean obestatin level of the HEG group was significantly lower than the non-pregnant control group (p=0.012). The mean motilin level in the HEG group was significantly higher compared to the asymptomatic pregnant control group (p=0.020).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study suggests a possible role of ghrelin, obestatin, leptin and motilin in the pathology of HEG independent from H.pylori positivity.