Reproduction Abstracts

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may be associated with lower pre-pregnancy GDF-15 levels which we hypothesize could increase their risk for hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Our objectives were to study the potential association between HG and PCOS, and to measure GDF-15 in pregnant women with PCOS. A cohort study including 793 women with HG, and 571 controls with self-reported PCOS; and 57 pregnant women with PCOS, and systematically registered nausea, antiemetic use, and sick leave due to HG. GDF-15 was measured in the PCOS cohort (n = 57) and in 13 healthy pregnant controls. We used t-test and odds ratio with logistic regression. We found increased odds for PCOS diagnosis in the HG cohort, (OR 2.0, 95% CI:1.1-3.5, P = 0.02). In the PCOS cohort (n = 57), 58 % reported nausea, and 12% were on HG treatment/sick leave. In early pregnancy, the median (IQR) GDF-15 was 9.2 (7.4-11.6) ng/ml in women with PCOS, compared to 10.5 (9.1-16.8) ng/ml in controls (P = 0.036). No difference was seen between PCOS on HG treatment/sick leave, compared to the remaining women with PCOS (P = 0.16). At mid-pregnancy (gw19), the median (IQR) was 78.2 (59.7-95.8) ng/ml in PCOS with nausea, compared to 55.9 (46.3-73.3) ng/ml in the remaining (P = 0.019). In late pregnancy (gw36), the median (IQR) GDF-15 was 92.2 (59.2-106.2) ng/ml in those PCOS with early pregnancy HG treatment/sick leave, compared to 58.7 (47.0-78.0) ng/ml in the remaining women with PCOS (P = 0.034). In conclusion, women with PCOS have an increased risk for HG. High increase in GDF-15 was associated with HG.

Keywords: GDF-15, polycystic ovary syndrome, PCOS, hyperemesis gravidarum, HG

References

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