They discover the cause of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy

2023-12-13 18:08:40

A recent study carried out by researchers from the University of Southern California (USA) and the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom) reveals that nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, which affect 80% of women At some point, they originate from a hormone produced by the fetus. These symptoms, in their most extreme form known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), can endanger both the mother and the fetus.

Published in the prestigious magazine ‘Nature‘, the findings suggest that pre-pregnancy exposure to this hormone, called GDF15, could attenuate symptoms in some women. Research supports the causal relationship between GDF15 and pregnancy diseases, highlighting the importance of the mother’s individual sensitivity to this hormone in the severity of symptoms.

According to Stephen O’Rahillyfrom the University of Cambridge, «the women most sensitive to the hormone are the ones who suffer the most». This knowledge provides crucial clues on how to prevent these conditions.

The study reveals that exposure prior to pregnancy to lower levels of GDF15 It could be a strategy to mitigate symptoms, as women exposed to lower levels experience more severe symptoms during pregnancy.

“We now know that women get sick during pregnancy when they are exposed to higher levels of the hormone GDF15 than they are used to,” says Marlena Fejzo, from the Keck School of Medicine and lead author of the study.

Drug

Reducing GDF15 levels could be one way to address pregnancy diseases, and the study suggests that doing so is probably safe. Additionally, another strategy could be to expose women to GDF15 before pregnancy to prepare them for elevated levels of the hormone once they become pregnant.

«This study provides strong evidence that one or both methods will be effective in preventing or treating HG», emphasized Fejzo.

Researchers now want to test whether metformin, a drug that increases GDF15 levels, is safe and effective in patients with a history of HG. They are also exploring drugs that block GDF15 from binding to its receptor in the brain as possible treatments.