Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Hyperemesis Gravidarum is a topic covered in the 5-Minute Emergency Consult.

To view the entire topic, please or purchase a subscription.

Emergency Central is a collection of disease, drug, and test information including 5-Minute Emergency Medicine Consult, Davis’s Drug, McGraw-Hill Medical’s Diagnosaurus®, Pocket Guide to Diagnostic Tests, and MEDLINE Journals created for emergency medicine professionals. Explore these free sample topics:

Emergency Central

-- The first section of this topic is shown below --

Basics

Description

  • Hyperemesis gravidarum is the most severe form along the continuum of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy
  • Also known as pernicious vomiting of pregnancy
  • Characterized by unexplained intractable vomiting and dehydration
  • Occurs in 0.3–2% of pregnancies
  • Diagnosis of exclusion

Etiology

  • Exact cause unknown
  • Possible causes include the following:
    • Elevated gestational hormone levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and/or estradiol
    • Thyrotoxicosis
    • Upper GI motility dysfunction
    • Hepatic abnormalities
    • Autonomic nervous system dysfunction
    • Psychological factors
    • Helicobacter pylori infection
    • Genetic predisposition

-- To view the remaining sections of this topic, please or purchase a subscription --