Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the severity of hyperemesis gravidarum disease and subclinical inflammatory factors such as platelet crit, hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, which are known to be closely associated with inflammation in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study was conducted between December 2020 and December 2021. A total of 215 pregnant women, 102 with hyperemesis gravidarum and 113 healthy pregnant women, were included in the study. Hyperemesis gravidarum patients were divided into three groups according to the modified Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and nausea classification as mild (n=38), moderate (n=32), and severe (n=32). RESULTS: Platelet crit, hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width ratio, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio values were found to be statistically significantly higher in the hyperemesis gravidarum group compared to the control group (p<0.05). There was a mild-to-severe increase in platelet crit, hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width ratio, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio values in hyperemesis gravidarum patients (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that a one-unit increase in platelet crit, hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width ratio, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio resulted in a 2.14-, 1.41-, and 2.36-fold increase in hyperemesis gravidarum risk, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet crit, hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width ratio, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio are inflammatory markers that increase in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum and have predictive value for the development of hyperemesis gravidarum. In our study, we suggested the use of a new prognostic marker for patients with hyperemesis gravidarum. We believe that our study will be a source for future studies on hyperemesis gravidarum.