Maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A levels in hyperemesis gravidarum: A prospective case control study

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate if maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A levels are affected in hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Materials and Methods: A prospective case control study was conducted in 169 HG cases who had one or more antepartum hos- pitilization for HG. The control pregnancies were 132 and were selected randomly among all women who had first trimester prenatal screening in antenatal outpatient clinic between 2011 and 2012. Results: Maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A levels were significantly higher in hyperemesis gravidarum group compared with control group (p = 0.002 p < 0.05 95% CI). Power analysis of independent sample t-test, two-sided, for pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A was 0.88. Maternal serum free p-human chorionic gonadotropin values were not different between two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Increased pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A levels associated with HG, even after excluding potential cofoundcrs.