Analysis of GDF15 and IGFBP7 in Hyperemesis Gravidarum Support Causality

Identification and characterization of human GDF15 knockouts

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a secreted protein that regulates food intake, body weight and stress responses in pre-clinical models1. The physiological function of GDF15 in humans remains unclear. Pharmacologically, GDF15 agonism in humans causes nausea without accompanying weight loss2, and GDF15 antagonism is being tested in clinical trials to treat cachexia and anorexia. Human genetics point to a role for GDF15 in hyperemesis gravidarum, but the safety or impact of complete GDF15 loss, particularly during pregnancy, is unknown3-7. Here we show the absence of an overt phenotype in human GDF15 loss-of-function carriers, including stop gains, frameshifts and the fully inactivating missense variant C211G3. These individuals were identified from 75,018 whole-exome/genome-sequenced participants in the Pakistan Genomic Resource8,9 and recall-by-genotype studies with family-based recruitment of variant carrier probands. We describe 8 homozygous ('knockouts') and 227 heterozygous carriers of loss-of-function alleles, including C211G. GDF15 knockouts range in age from 31 to 75 years, are fertile, have multiple children and show no consistent overt phenotypes, including metabolic dysfunction. Our data support the hypothesis that GDF15 is not required for fertility, healthy pregnancy, foetal development or survival into adulthood. These observations support the safety of therapeutics that block GDF15.

GDF15 Targeting for Treatment of Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP), particularly its severe form, Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), affects up to 70% of pregnancies and significantly impacts the quality of life for those with the condition as well as generates a great economic burden, with annual costs exceeding $1.7 billion in the United States. Despite the available treatments targeting neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, many patients experience inadequate relief and suffer from severe side effects, including headaches and dizziness. Recent research has underscored the role of GDF15, a protein mainly produced by the placenta and linked to NVP symptoms. This protein, part of the TGF-β superfamily, has been implicated in appetite and weight regulation and is altered in those with HG due to specific genetic mutations. Addressing the challenges of delivering effective treatments, current innovations focus on targeting GDF15 to reduce symptoms while ensuring fetal safety. Promising therapeutic strategies include non-IgG immunotherapies, small peptide and molecule antagonists, and novel administration methods such as transdermal patches. These approaches aim to optimize dosage and reduce adverse effects. The effective development and testing of these treatments necessitate advanced animal models that closely resemble human pregnancy physiology, highlighting the need for further research and funding. This ongoing research holds significant potential to improve the clinical outcomes for HG patients and decrease the economic impact on healthcare systems, urging a dedicated response from the scientific and medical communities to advance these promising treatments.

The multifaceted role of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) serves as a crucial extracellular matrix protein, exerting pivotal roles in both physiological and pathological processes. This comprehensive review meticulously delineates the structural attributes of IGFBP7, juxtaposing them with other members within the IGFBP families, and delves into the expression patterns across various tissues. Furthermore, the review thoroughly examines the multifaceted functions of IGFBP7, encompassing its regulatory effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration, elucidating the underlying mechanistic pathways. Moreover, it underscores the compelling roles in tumor progression, acute kidney injury, and reproductive processes. By rigorously elucidating the diverse functionalities and regulatory networks of IGFBP7 across various physiological and pathological contexts, this review aims to furnish a robust theoretical framework and delineate future research trajectories for leveraging IGFBP7 in disease diagnosis, therapeutic interventions, and pharmaceutical innovations.

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) in Chinese pregnant women: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

This study addresses the scarcity of research on nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) in China. It aims to explore the current NVP status in the country using validated questionnaires, analyze associated factors, and provide a useful reference for future research. The study also compares results from different assessment tools.

METHODS

Online questionnaires were utilized to gather data from 535 pregnant women across 24 provinces. Demographic, pregnancy, and NVP-related information were collected. NVP severity was assessed using Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea (PUQE) and the Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching (RINVR) scales. Ordinal logistic regression identified factors linked to NVP severity. Differences between PUQE and RINVR assessments were compared.

RESULTS

NVP prevalence exceeded 90%, with 96.1% assessed by PUQE and 90.8% by RINVR. Incidence decreased from nausea to retching and vomiting. Severe NVP correlated with reduced gestational weight gain, younger age, fewer gestational weeks, and living in North (all P values < 0.05). There was moderate consistency between PUQE and RINVR assessments. The NVP prevalence assessed by the PUQE is higher than that assessed by the RINVR in the same population. However, the proportion of NVP levels above moderate assessed by RINVR is greater than that assessed by PUQE.

CONCLUSIONS

NVP is highly prevalent among Chinese pregnant women, with nausea being predominant. RINVR assessments may be better able to identify severe NVP, thereby improving the low treatment rates for severe NVP.

Elevated Plasma Levels of Arginines During Labor Among Women with Spontaneous Preterm Birth: A Prospective Cohort Study

PROBLEM

Preterm birth (PTB) is a leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity. The pathogenesis of PTB is complex and involves many factors, including socioeconomy, inflammation and infection. Asymmetric dimethylarginine, ADMA and symmetric dimethylarginine, SDMA are involved in labor as inhibitors of nitric oxide, a known relaxant of the uterine smooth muscles. Arginines are scarcely studied in relation to PTB and we aimed to investigate arginines (ADMA, SDMA and L-arginine) in women with spontaneous PTB and term birth.

METHODS OF THE STUDY

The study was based on data from the population-based, prospective cohort BASIC study conducted in Uppsala County, Sweden, between September 2009 and November 2018. Arginines were analyzed by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography using plasma samples taken at the onset of labor from women with spontaneous PTB (n = 34) and term birth (n = 45). We also analyzed the inflammation markers CRP, TNF-R1 and TNF-R2 and GDF-15.

RESULTS

Women with spontaneous PTB had higher plasma levels of ADMA (p < 0.001), and L-Arginine (p = 0.03). In addition, inflammation marker, TNF-R1 (p = 0.01) was higher in spontaneous PTB compared to term birth. Further, in spontaneous PTB, no significant correlations could be observed when comparing levels of arginines with inflammation markers, except ADMA versus CRP.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide novel evidence for the potential involvement of arginines in the pathogenesis of spontaneous PTB and it seems that arginine levels at labor vary independently of several inflammatory markers. Further research is warranted to investigate the potential of arginines as therapeutic targets in the prevention and management of spontaneous PTB.

[Hyperemesis Gravidarum - an Interprofessional and Interdisciplinary Challenge - Evidence-Based Review]

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a multifactorial disease characterized by severe and persisting nausea and vomiting, impairment of oral intake, weight loss of at least 5%, electrolyte abnormalities, and dehydration. The prevalence of HG ranges from 0.3 to 10% worldwide. The diagnosis is made by the patient's prehistory, clinical symptoms, physical examination, and the typical laboratory abnormalities. Therapeutic cornerstones are nutrition advice, consultation of life style, psychological/psychosocial support of the mother as well as the administration of antiemetics in a stepwise approach, depending on the severity of symptoms, and finally admission to hospital in severe cases. Treatment of patients requires close interprofessional and interdisciplinary cooperation.

Hyperemesis gravidarum theories dispelled by recent research: a paradigm change for better care and outcomes

Nausea and vomiting (NVP) affect most pregnant women. At the severe end of the clinical spectrum, hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) can be life-threatening. The condition is fraught with misconceptions that have slowed progress and left women undertreated. Herein, recent scientific advances are presented that dispel common myths associated with HG related to maternal/offspring outcomes, etiology, and evolution. There is now strong evidence that (i) HG is associated with poor outcomes, (ii) a common cause of NVP and HG has been identified, and (iii) NVP is likely a protective evolutionary mechanism that occurs throughout the animal kingdom but is no longer necessary for human survival. Therefore, it is encouraging that we are finally on the cusp of testing treatments that may put an end to unnecessary suffering.

GDF15 knockout does not substantially impact perinatal body weight or neonatal outcomes in mice

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) increases in circulation during pregnancy and has been implicated in food intake, weight loss, complications of pregnancy, and metabolic illness. We used a Gdf15 knockout mouse model (Gdf15-/- ) to assess the role of GDF15 in body weight regulation and food intake during pregnancy. We found that Gdf15-/- dams consumed a similar amount of food and gained comparable weight during the course of pregnancy compared to Gdf15+/+ dams. Insulin sensitivity on gestational day 16.5 was also similar between genotypes. In the postnatal period, litter size, and survival rates were similar between genotypes. There was a modest reduction in birth weight of Gdf15-/- pups, but this difference was no longer evident postnatal day 3.5 to 14.5. We observed no detectable differences in milk volume production or milk fat percentage. These data suggest that GDF15 is dispensable for changes in food intake, and body weight as well as insulin sensitivity during pregnancy in a mouse model.

GDF15 linked to maternal risk of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy

GDF15, a hormone acting on the brainstem, has been implicated in the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, including its most severe form, hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), but a full mechanistic understanding is lacking1-4. Here we report that fetal production of GDF15 and maternal sensitivity to it both contribute substantially to the risk of HG. We confirmed that higher GDF15 levels in maternal blood are associated with vomiting in pregnancy and HG. Using mass spectrometry to detect a naturally labelled GDF15 variant, we demonstrate that the vast majority of GDF15 in the maternal plasma is derived from the feto-placental unit. By studying carriers of rare and common genetic variants, we found that low levels of GDF15 in the non-pregnant state increase the risk of developing HG. Conversely, women with β-thalassaemia, a condition in which GDF15 levels are chronically high5, report very low levels of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. In mice, the acute food intake response to a bolus of GDF15 is influenced bi-directionally by prior levels of circulating GDF15 in a manner suggesting that this system is susceptible to desensitization. Our findings support a putative causal role for fetally derived GDF15 in the nausea and vomiting of human pregnancy, with maternal sensitivity, at least partly determined by prepregnancy exposure to the hormone, being a major influence on its severity. They also suggest mechanism-based approaches to the treatment and prevention of HG.

Evaluation of nausea and vomiting in the first trimester on the risk of adverse birth outcomes and the contribution of genetic polymorphisms: a pilot prospective study

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy (NVP) on the risk of Preterm Birth (PTB) and Low Birth Weight (LBW), and explore the effect of genetic polymorphisms on the severity of NVP.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted. Participants' experience of NVP prior to 12 gestational weeks were evaluated by a Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea (PUQE) scale. 11 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) loci located in growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and leucine-rich repeat containing 25 (LRRC25) gene of chr19p13.11 and intergenic region of chr4q12 were genotyped, which were implicated as genetic risk factors for NVP. Logistic regression models were applied to determine the effect of NVP in the first trimester on the risk of PTB and LBW, and genetic polymorphisms on the risk of NVP.

RESULTS

Among 413 pregnant women, the incidence of nausea and vomiting was 85.5% (n = 353) in the first trimester, including 38.7% (n = 160) mild vomiting, 42.6% (n = 176) moderate vomiting and 4.1% (n = 17) severe vomiting. 33 were PTB, 20 were LBW. Compared with pregnant women without NVP, women with mild, moderate or severe NVP in the first trimester were not associated with the risk of PTB and LBW. Besides, the polymorphisms of 11 SNPs loci were not associated with the risk of NVP.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicated that symptoms of nausea and vomiting in the first trimester were not significantly associated with PTB and LBW, and there were also no associations between GDF15 and LRRC25 polymorphisms and NVP.

Prevalence and burden of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women: Interim analysis of the PURITY survey

OBJECTIVES

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is a common and invalidating condition in early pregnancy. However, no data are available on its prevalence in Italy. This survey aims to evaluate the prevalence and impact of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy on the quality of life of Italian women.

STUDY DESIGN

The survey was performed in three Italian public University Hospitals in two distinct periods: a first interview took place between the 18th and 22nd week of pregnancy, using the Questionnaire for Pregnancy Period (14 questions regarding demographic data and 30 questions about nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, including Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis questionnaire), and a follow-up interview, by telephone call, took place immediately after giving birth and in any case within 14 days of delivery, using the Questionnaire for Post-Pregnancy (9 questions). Included women were Caucasian, in physiological pregnancy and between the 18th and 22nd week (time of morphological ultrasound), able to communicate adequately with the interviewer, understand the questionnaires and able to provide valid informed consent. Twin pregnancies and women who recurred to medically assisted procreation were excluded. This is an interim report on data collected from 232 of the planned 600 women.

RESULTS

Mean age of the recruited subjects was 32.6 ± 4.6 years, with approximately 60% primiparous. The prevalence of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy in the sample examined was 65.5% overall (152 out of 232 subjects). Of these 152 women, 63 (41.4%) experienced only nausea, 6 (3.9%) only vomiting, and 83 (54.6%) reported both. Symptoms were reported to begin at 7.2 ± 2.7 weeks, lasted 10.2 ± 5.6 weeks, and persisted at the time of the interview in 32.2% of cases. Overall, over 50% of the women interviewed experienced a negative impact of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy on social relationships and work activity.

CONCLUSIONS

A high prevalence of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, 65.5% overall, was found in this interim analysis. These symptoms appeared capable of negatively influencing women quality of life. Screening procedures should be offered during pregnancy and measures that address nausea and vomiting in pregnancy impact warranted.

Hyperemesis gravidarum: Associations with personal and family history of nausea

INTRODUCTION

The pathogenesis and risk factors for hyperemesis gravidarum, excessive nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, are not adequately recognized. In our previous study, we found that women with a personal history of nausea in different situations and a family history of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) were more likely to have severe NVP. The present study focuses on these themes in association with hyperemesis gravidarum in a hospital setting.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Women with hyperemesis gravidarum (n = 102) were recruited from among patients hospitalized due to hyperemesis gravidarum in Turku University Hospital, Finland. Our control group (Non-NVP group, n = 138) consisted of pregnant women with no NVP. Personal history of nausea in different situations was inquired about in relation to "motion sickness", "seasickness", "migraine", "other kind of headache", "after anesthesia", "during the use of contraception", and "other kinds of nausea". Relatives with NVP were divided into first-degree (mother and sisters) and second-degree (more distant) relatives.

RESULTS

In univariate analysis, a personal history of motion sickness, seasickness, nausea related to migraine, nausea with other headache and nausea in other situations were associated with hyperemesis gravidarum. After adjusting for age, parity, pre-pregnancy body mass index, marital status, and smoking, motion sickness (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.67-10.31, p < 0.0001), seasickness (aOR 4.82, 95% CI 2.32-10.03, p < 0.0001), nausea related to migraine (aOR 3.00, 95% CI 1.58-5.70, p < 0.001), and nausea in other situations (aOR 2.65, 95% CI 1.13-6.20, p = 0.025) remained significant. In multivariable analysis with all history of nausea variables, motion sickness (OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.29-5.89, p = 0.009) and nausea related to migraine (OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.40-6.86, p = 0.005) were associated with hyperemesis gravidarum. Having any affected relative (OR 3.51, 95%CI 1.84-6.73, p = 0.0002), especially a first-degree relative (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.62-5.79, p = 0.0006), was also associated with hyperemesis gravidarum. Adjustment did not change the results.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with a personal history of nausea or a family history of NVP are more likely to suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum. These results are beneficial to better identify and help women at risk for hyperemesis gravidarum.

Fetally-encoded GDF15 and maternal GDF15 sensitivity are major determinants of nausea and vomiting in human pregnancy

Human pregnancy is frequently accompanied by nausea and vomiting that may become severe and life-threatening, as in hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), the cause of which is unknown. Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF15), a hormone known to act on the hindbrain to cause emesis, is highly expressed in the placenta and its levels in maternal blood rise rapidly in pregnancy. Variants in the maternal GDF15 gene are associated with HG. Here we report that fetal production of GDF15, and maternal sensitivity to it, both contribute substantially to the risk of HG. We found that the great majority of GDF15 in maternal circulation is derived from the feto-placental unit and that higher GDF15 levels in maternal blood are associated with vomiting and are further elevated in patients with HG. Conversely, we found that lower levels of GDF15 in the non-pregnant state predispose women to HG. A rare C211G variant in GDF15 which strongly predisposes mothers to HG, particularly when the fetus is wild-type, was found to markedly impair cellular secretion of GDF15 and associate with low circulating levels of GDF15 in the non-pregnant state. Consistent with this, two common GDF15 haplotypes which predispose to HG were associated with lower circulating levels outside pregnancy. The administration of a long-acting form of GDF15 to wild-type mice markedly reduced subsequent responses to an acute dose, establishing that desensitisation is a feature of this system. GDF15 levels are known to be highly and chronically elevated in patients with beta thalassemia. In women with this disorder, reports of symptoms of nausea or vomiting in pregnancy were strikingly diminished. Our findings support a causal role for fetal derived GDF15 in the nausea and vomiting of human pregnancy, with maternal sensitivity, at least partly determined by pre-pregnancy exposure to GDF15, being a major influence on its severity. They also suggest mechanism-based approaches to the treatment and prevention of HG.

Cancer cachexia as a blueprint for treating obesity

Effective pharmacological treatments to achieve significant and sustained weight loss in obese individuals remain limited. Here, we apply a 'reverse engineering' approach to cancer cachexia, an extreme form of dysregulated energy balance resulting in net catabolism. We discuss three phenotypic features of the disease, summarize the underlying molecular checkpoints, and explore their translation to obesity research. We then provide examples for established pharmaceuticals, which follow a reverse engineering logic, and propose additional targets that may be of relevance for future studies. Finally, we argue that approaching diseases from this perspective may prove useful as a generic strategy to fuel the development of innovative therapies.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Risk of Recurrence in Subsequent Pregnancies

This study aimed to examine whether the recurrence risk of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is modified by the timing of diagnosis, the severity of illness, and interpregnancy interval. The Kaiser Permanente Southern California 1998-2020 longitudinally linked medical records were used to examine the recurrence risk of HG in the first two (n = 93,444) and first three (n = 17,492) successive pregnancies. The timing of diagnosis- and the severity of illness-specific recurrence risks were examined by estimating the adjusted relative risks (aRR). The risks of HG in the second pregnancy among patients with and without previous HG were 23.8% and 3.4%, respectively (aRR: 8.20; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.52, 8.94). The recurrence risk persisted regardless of the trimester at diagnosis and the gestational age of delivery in the first pregnancy. The recurrence risk was greater for patients with metabolic disturbances requiring in-hospital treatment (30.0%) than those managed on an outpatient basis (18.6%) in the first pregnancy (aRR: 10.84 95% CI: 9.66, 12.16). Although Asian/Pacific Islander (RR = 12.9) and White (RR = 8.9) patients had higher HG recurrence risk regardless of the gestational age at delivery in the first pregnancy, all patients had significant recurrence risk only if their first pregnancy was delivered after 32 weeks of gestation. African American patients had the highest recurrence rate (34.4%). HG recurrence risk was unaffected by interpregnancy interval and correlated with the number of previous pregnancies complicated by HG. There is an increased recurrence risk of HG in subsequent pregnancies that is influenced by race/ethnicity and gestational age at delivery. The number of pregnancies complicated by HG synergistically adds to the recurrence risk.

The Cytokine Growth Differentiation Factor-15 and Skeletal Muscle Health: Portrait of an Emerging Widely Applicable Disease Biomarker

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is a stress-induced transforming growth factor-β superfamily cytokine with versatile functions in human health. Elevated GDF-15 blood levels associate with multiple pathological conditions, and are currently extensively explored for diagnosis, and as a means to monitor disease progression and evaluate therapeutic responses. This review analyzes GDF-15 in human conditions specifically focusing on its association with muscle manifestations of sarcopenia, mitochondrial myopathy, and autoimmune and viral myositis. The use of GDF-15 as a widely applicable health biomarker to monitor muscle disease is discussed, and its potential as a therapeutic target is explored.

Anti-emetic effects of thalidomide: Evidence, mechanism of action, and future directions

The rationale for using thalidomide (THD) as a treatment for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy in the late 1950s appears to have been based on its sedative or hypnotic properties. In contrast to contemporaneous studies on the anti-emetic activity of phenothiazines, we were unable to identify publications reporting preclinical or clinical evaluation of THD as an anti-emetic. Our survey of the literature revealed a clinical study in 1965 showing THD reduced vomiting in cancer chemotherapy which was substantiated by similar studies from 2000, particularly showing efficacy in the delayed phase of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. To identify the mechanism(s) potentially involved in thalidomide's anti-emetic activity we reviewed its pharmacology in the light of nausea and vomiting mechanisms and their pharmacology with a particular emphasis on chemotherapy and pregnancy. The process identified the following potential mechanisms: reduced secretion of Growth Differentiation Factor 15, suppression of inflammation/prostaglandin production, downregulation of cytotoxic drug induced upregulation of iNOS, and modulation of BK (KCa1.1) channels and GABAA/glutamate transmission at critical points in the emetic pathways (nucleus tractus solitarius, area postrema). We propose ways to investigate these hypothesized mechanisms and discuss the associated challenges (e.g., objective quantification of nausea) in addition to some of the more general aspects of developing novel drugs to treat nausea and vomiting.

Systematic evidence map of evidence addressing the top 10 priority research questions for hyperemesis gravidarum

OBJECTIVE

Knowledge gaps regarding hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) are substantial. We aimed to systematically identify and map recent evidence addressing the top 10 priority questions for HG, as published in 2021 in a James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership.

DESIGN

Systematic evidence map.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE on 12 January 2021 and CINAHL on 22 February 2021 with search terms hyperemesis gravidarum, pernicious vomiting in pregnancy and their synonyms. Results were limited to 2009 onwards. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts to assess whether the studies addressed a top 10 priority questions for HG. Differences were discussed until consensus was reached. Publications were allocated to one or more top 10 research questions. Study design was noted, as was patient or public involvement. Two reviewers extracted data synchronously and both cross-checked 10%. Extracted data were imported into EPPI-Reviewer software to create an evidence map.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The number and design of studies in the search yield, displayed per the published 10 priority questions.

RESULTS

Searches returned 4338 results for screening; 406 publications were included in the evidence map. 136 publications addressed multiple questions. Numerous studies address the immediate and long-term outcomes or possible markers for HG (question 8 and 9, respectively 164 and 82 studies). Very few studies seek a possible cure for HG (question 1, 8 studies), preventative treatment (question 4, 2 studies) or how to achieve nutritional requirements of pregnancy (question 10, 17 studies). Case reports/series were most numerous with 125 (30.7%) included. Few qualitative studies (9, 2.2%) were identified. 25 (6.1%) systematic reviews addressed eight questions, or aspects of them. 31 (7.6%) studies included patient involvement.

CONCLUSIONS

There are significant gaps and overlap in the current HG literature addressing priority questions. Researchers and funders should direct their efforts at addressing the gaps in the top 10 questions.

Patterns of Use and Self-reported Effectiveness of Cannabis for Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Introduction There is limited research on effective treatment of Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), the most extreme version of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP). This paper examines current patterns of use and self-reported effectiveness of cannabis/cannabis-based products (CBP) to treat HG.

Materials/Methods The study employed a 21-question survey to gather information on demographics, antiemetic prescription use, and experience with cannabis/CBPs among individuals who experienced extreme nausea and vomiting or HG during their pregnancy. Age-adjusted unconditional logistic regression was used to compare odds of symptom relief and weight gain between respondents who used prescription antiemetics and those who used cannabis.

Results Of the 550 survey respondents, 84% experienced weight loss during pregnancy; 96% reported using prescription antiemetics and 14% reported cannabis use for HG. Most respondents reported using cannabis/CBPs (71%) because their prescribed antiemetics were self-reported to be ineffective. More than half of cannabis/CBP users reported using products daily or multiple times per day (53%), primarily via smoke inhalation (59%), and mainly either delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) only or THC dominant preparations (57%). Eighty-two percent of cannabis/CBP users reported symptom relief, compared to 60% of prescription antiemetic users. Among patients who reported weight loss during pregnancy, 56% of cannabis users reported gaining weight within two weeks of treatment, compared to 25% of prescription antiemetic users.

Conclusions Respondents reported using cannabis primarily because prescribed medications were self-reported to be ineffective. Although the survey approach has inherent limitations so results should be interpreted with caution, in this sample, cannabis was self-reported to be more effective than prescription medications in alleviating HG symptoms and enabling pregnancy weight gain. Therefore, depending on the safety profiles, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials of cannabis compared to other antiemetics are warranted to determine whether cannabinoids may provide an effective alternative treatment for HG.

Whole-exome sequencing uncovers new variants in GDF15 associated with hyperemesis gravidarum

Whole‐exome sequencing reveals placenta and vomiting hormone GDF15 most likely cause of Hyperemesis Gravidarum.

Klerman's "credo" reconsidered: neo-Kraepelinianism, Spitzer's views, and what we can learn from the past

In 1978, G. Klerman published an essay in which he named the then-nascent "neo-Kraepelinian" movement and formulated a "credo" of nine propositions expressing the movement's essential claims and aspirations. Klerman's essay appeared on the eve of the triumph of neo-Kraepelinian ideas in the DSM-III. However, this diagnostic system has subsequently come under attack, opening the way for competing proposals for the future of psychiatric nosology. To better understand what is at stake, in this paper I provide a close reading and consideration of Klerman's credo in light of the past forty years of research and reflection. The credo is placed in the context of two equally seminal publications in the same year, one by S. Guze, the leading neo-Kraepelinian theorist, and the other by R. Spitzer and J. Endicott, defining mental disorder. The divergences between Spitzer and standard neo-Kraepelinianism are highlighted and argued to be much more important than is generally realized. The analysis of Klerman's credo is also argued to have implications for how to satisfactorily resolve the current nosological ferment in psychiatry. In addition to issues such as creating descriptive syndromal diagnostic criteria, overthrowing psychoanalytic dominance of psychiatry, and making psychiatry more scientific, neo-Kraepelinians were deeply concerned with the conceptual issue of the nature of mental disorder and the defense of psychiatry's medical legitimacy in response to antipsychiatric criticisms. These issues cannot be ignored, and I argue that proposals currently on offer to replace the neo-Kraepelinian system, especially popular proposals to replace it with dimensional measures, fail to adequately address them.

Emerging Progress in Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy and Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Challenges and Opportunities

Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) is a common condition that affects up to 70% of pregnant women. Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is considered the serious form of NVP, which is reported in 0.3–10.8% of pregnant women. NVP has a relatively benign course, but HG can be linked with some poor maternal, fetal, and offspring outcomes. The exact causes of NVP and HG are unknown, but various factors have been hypothesized to be associated with pathogenesis. With the advance of precision medicine and molecular biology, some genetic factors such as growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) have become therapeutic targets. In our review, we summarize the historical hypotheses of the pathogenesis of NVP and HG including hormonal factors, Helicobacter pylori, gastrointestinal dysmotility, placenta-related factors, psychosocial factors, and new factors identified by genetics. We also highlight some approaches to the management of NVP and HG, including pharmacological treatment, complementary treatment, and some supporting treatments. Looking to the future, progress in understanding NVP and HG may reduce the adverse outcomes and improve the maternal quality of life during pregnancy.

Serum and urine profiles of TGF-β superfamily members in reproductive aged women

BACKGROUND

TGF-β superfamily members are important biomarkers of reproductive health in women desiring fertility and during pregnancy. TGF-β proteins derived from the ovary and/or placenta have been detected in serum in women, but there have been very few attempts to measure them non-invasively, such as in urinary samples, and to compare them to serum concentrations.

METHODS

We measured inhibin A, inhibin B, total inhibin, AMH, activin A, activin B, activin AB, follistatin, the GDF-9/BMP-15 complex, and GDF-15 in paired serum and urine samples from healthy reproductive aged women and in pregnant (second trimester) women.

RESULTS

We detected all hormones in serum in both pregnant and non-pregnant women. Inhibin A, total inhibin, activin A, activin AB, follistatin, and GDF-15 were significantly higher in pregnant than in non-pregnant women. GDF-15 was the only hormone consistently detected in urine. We also measured, for the first time, the GDF-9/BMP-15 functional heterodimer and the GDF-15 protein harboring the H202D polymorphism.

CONCLUSIONS

We report the successful measurement of the GDF-9/BMP-15 heterodimer (its native form) in serum and the ability to measure GDF-15 non-invasively, in urinary samples. This novel GDF-15 assay also captures the antigen in the presence of a common genetic variant.

Review article: Management of hyperemesis gravidarum and nausea and vomiting in pregnancy

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) are common in early pregnancy but there is a wide spectrum of severity in terms of the duration and acuity of symptoms throughout gestation. Adverse maternal and fetal outcomes have been seen in women who experience severe symptoms, also known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Evidence-based, assessment and management can reduce symptom severity, avoid physical and psychological deterioration and minimise the impact on quality of life and function. A pathway for assessment and management of NVP and HG in the emergency room is presented based on the Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand Guideline for the Management of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy and Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Assessment requires an objective evaluation using a validated scoring system such as the PUQE-24 score, as well as calculation of hydration and nutritional status. Ketonuria is not associated with either the diagnosis or severity of HG. Further investigation including biochemistry is only required in severe cases. Many women will have tried a range of therapies and an important aspect of treatment is to recognise the validity of their symptoms. Treatment may require a combination of intravenous fluids, anti-emetics, acid suppression and laxatives. Outpatient management is optimal but admission may be required for refractory symptoms, organ dysfunction or concurrent significant co-morbidities. Emergency management of NVP and HG requires an appropriate pathway of care to support women until the natural resolution of their condition. Both underuse of safe therapies and overuse of ineffective medication must be avoided.

Mechanisms of Nausea and Vomiting: Current Knowledge and Recent Advances in Intracellular Emetic Signaling Systems

Nausea and vomiting are common gastrointestinal complaints that can be triggered by diverse emetic stimuli through central and/or peripheral nervous systems. Both nausea and vomiting are considered as defense mechanisms when threatening toxins/drugs/bacteria/viruses/fungi enter the body either via the enteral (e.g., the gastrointestinal tract) or parenteral routes, including the blood, skin, and respiratory systems. While vomiting is the act of forceful removal of gastrointestinal contents, nausea is believed to be a subjective sensation that is more difficult to study in nonhuman species. In this review, the authors discuss the anatomical structures, neurotransmitters/mediators, and corresponding receptors, as well as intracellular emetic signaling pathways involved in the processes of nausea and vomiting in diverse animal models as well as humans. While blockade of emetic receptors in the prevention of vomiting is fairly well understood, the potential of new classes of antiemetics altering postreceptor signal transduction mechanisms is currently evolving, which is also reviewed. Finally, future directions within the field will be discussed in terms of important questions that remain to be resolved and advances in technology that may help provide potential answers.

Growth differentiation factor 15 increases in both cerebrospinal fluid and serum during pregnancy

Aim

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) increases in serum during pregnancy to levels not seen in any other physiological state and is suggested to be involved in pregnancy-induced nausea, weight regulation and glucose metabolism. The main action of GDF15 is regulated through a receptor of the brainstem, i.e., through exposure of GDF15 in both blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The aim of the current study was to measure GDF15 in both CSF and serum during pregnancy, and to compare it longitudinally to non-pregnant levels.

Methods

Women were sampled at elective caesarean section (n = 45, BMI = 28.1±5.0) and were followed up 5 years after pregnancy (n = 25). GDF15, insulin and leptin were measured in CSF and serum. Additional measurements included plasma glucose, and serum adiponectin and Hs-CRP.

Results

GDF15 levels were higher during pregnancy compared with follow-up in both CSF (385±128 vs. 115±32 ng/l, P<0.001) and serum (73789±29198 vs. 404±102 ng/l, P<0.001). CSF levels correlated with serum levels during pregnancy (P<0.001), but not in the non-pregnant state (P = 0.98). Both CSF and serum GDF15 were highest in women carrying a female fetus (P<0.001). Serum GDF15 correlated with the homeostatic model assessment for beta-cell function and placental weight, and CSF GDF15 correlated inversely with CSF insulin levels.

Conclusion

This, the first study to measure CSF GDF15 during pregnancy, demonstrated increased GDF15 levels in both serum and CSF during pregnancy. The results suggest that effects of GDF15 during pregnancy can be mediated by increases in both CSF and serum levels.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Strategies to Improve Outcomes

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a debilitating and potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease marked by weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration attributed to unrelenting nausea and/or vomiting; HG increases the risk of adverse outcomes for the mother and child(ren). The complexity of HG affects every aspect of a woman's life during and after pregnancy. Without methodical intervention by knowledgeable and proactive clinicians, life-threatening complications may develop. Effectively managing HG requires an understanding of both physical and psychosocial stressors, recognition of potential risks and complications, and proactive assessment and treatment strategies using innovative clinical tools.

HyperEmesis Level Prediction (HELP Score) Identifies Patients with Indicators of Severe Disease: a Validation Study

Objective Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) severity can be underestimated resulting in undertreatment and adverse outcomes. This study was conducted to validate a tool (HELP Score) designed to score HG severity.

Materials and Methods A survey link which included PUQE and HELP Score (HELP) tool questions was posted on websites related to HG. HELP scores were compared to PUQE scores for indicators of severe disease.

Results HELP classified 92% of women reporting “nothing goes or stays down” as severe, compared to 58% using PUQE. Women self-categorizing symptoms as severe were more likely categorized as severe using HELP. Women hospitalized for HG were more likely classified as severe using HELP. HELP performs better than PUQE in identifying patients with severe symptoms requiring intervention.

Conclusion This study provides a novel tool that should be implemented to determine the need for intervention for NVP that may be overlooked using PUQE or empirical assessment.

The GDF15-GFRAL Pathway in Health and Metabolic Disease: Friend or Foe?

GDF15 is a cell activation and stress response cytokine of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family within the TGF-β superfamily. It acts through a recently identified orphan member of the GFRα family called GFRAL and signals through the Ret coreceptor. Cell stress and disease lead to elevated GDF15 serum levels, causing anorexia, weight loss, and alterations to metabolism, largely by actions on regions of the hindbrain. These changes restore homeostasis and, in the case of obesity, cause a reduction in adiposity. In some diseases, such as advanced cancer, serum GDF15 levels can rise by as much as 10-100-fold, leading to an anorexia-cachexia syndrome, which is often fatal. This review discusses how GDF15 regulates appetite and metabolism, the role it plays in resistance to obesity, and how this impacts diseases such as diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and anorexia-cachexia syndrome. It also discusses potential therapeutic applications of targeting the GDF15-GFRAL pathway and lastly suggests some potential unifying hypotheses for its biological role.

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Their Metabolites in Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been studied in relation to pregnancy. However, there is limited knowledge on PUFAs and their metabolites in relation to hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a pregnancy complication associated with nutritional deficiencies and excessive vomiting. In order to survey the field, a systematic review of the literature was performed, which also included nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) due to its close relationship with HG. In the very few published studies found, the main subjects of the research concerned free fatty acids (four records), lipid profiles (three records), and bioactive lipids (one article about prostaglandin E₂ and one about endocannabinoids). The authors of these studies concluded that, although no cause-and-effect relationship can be established, HG is linked to increased sympathetic responsiveness, thermogenic activity and metabolic rate. In addition, NVP is linked to a metabolic perturbance (which lasts throughout pregnancy). The low number of retrieved records underlines the need for more research in the area of PUFAs and HG, especially with regard to the underlying mechanism for the detected effects, potentially involving growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) since evidence for GDF15 regulation of lipid metabolism and the role for GDF15 and its receptor in nausea and vomiting is emerging.

Effect of gabapentin on hyperemesis gravidarum: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Hyperemesis gravidarum is a disabling disease of nausea, vomiting, and undernutrition in early pregnancy for which there are no effective outpatient therapies. Poor weight gain in hyperemesis gravidarum is associated with several adverse fetal outcomes including preterm delivery, low birthweight, small for gestational age, low 5-minute Apgar scores, and neurodevelopmental delay. Gabapentin is most commonly used clinically for treating neuropathic pain but also substantially reduces chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea and vomiting. Pregnancy registry data have shown maternal first-trimester gabapentin monotherapy to be associated with a 1.2% rate of major congenital malformations among 659 infants, which compares favorably with the 1.6% to 2.2% major congenital malformation rate in the general population. Open-label gabapentin treatment in hyperemesis gravidarum was associated with reduced nausea and vomiting and improved oral nutrition.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine whether gabapentin is more effective than standard-of-care therapy for treating hyperemesis gravidarum.

STUDY DESIGN

A double-blind, randomized, multicenter trial was conducted among patients with medically refractory hyperemesis gravidarum requiring intravenous hydration. Patients were randomized (1:1) to either oral gabapentin (1800-2400 mg/d) or an active comparator of either oral ondansetron (24-32 mg/d) or oral metoclopramide (45-60 mg/d) for 7 days. Differences in Motherisk-pregnancy-unique quantification of nausea and emesis total scores between treatment groups averaged over days 5 to 7, using intention-to-treat principle employing a linear mixed-effects model adjusted for baseline Motherisk-pregnancy-unique quantification of nausea and emesis scores, which served as the primary endpoint. Secondary outcomes included Motherisk-pregnancy-unique quantification of nausea and emesis nausea and vomit and retch subscores, oral nutrition, global satisfaction of treatment, relief, desire to continue therapy, Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy Quality of Life, and Hyperemesis Gravidarum Pregnancy Termination Consideration. Adjustments for multiple comparisons were made employing the false discovery rate.

RESULTS

A total of 31 patients with hyperemesis gravidarum were enrolled from October 2014 to May 2019. Among the 21 patients providing primary outcome data (12 assigned to gabapentin and 9 to the active comparator arm), 18 were enrolled as outpatients and all 21 were outpatients from days 5 to 7. The study groups' baseline characteristics were well matched. Gabapentin treatment provided a 52% greater reduction in days 5 to 7 baseline adjusted Motherisk-pregnancy-unique quantification of nausea and emesis total scores than treatment with active comparator (95% confidence interval, 16-88; P=.01). Most secondary outcomes also favored gabapentin over active comparator treatment including 46% and 49% decreases in baseline adjusted Motherisk-pregnancy-unique quantification of nausea and emesis nausea (95% confidence interval, 19-72; P=.005) and vomit and retch subscores (95% confidence interval, 21-77; P=.005), respectively; a 96% increase in baseline adjusted oral nutrition scores (95% confidence interval, 27-165; P=.01); and a 254% difference in global satisfaction of treatment (95% confidence interval, 48-459; P=.03). Relief (P=.06) and desire to continue therapy (P=.06) both showed trends favoring gabapentin treatment but Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy Quality of Life (P=.68) and Hyperemesis Gravidarum Pregnancy Termination Consideration (P=.58) did not. Adverse events were roughly equivalent between the groups. There were no serious adverse events.

CONCLUSION

In this small trial, gabapentin was more effective than standard-of-care therapy for reducing nausea and vomiting and increasing oral nutrition and global satisfaction in outpatients with hyperemesis gravidarum. These data build on previous findings in other patient populations supporting gabapentin as a novel antinausea and antiemetic therapy and support further research on gabapentin for this challenging complication of pregnancy.

[Effects of hyperemesis gravidarum on the course of pregnancy and birth, with special attention to the risk factor of migration background]

MAIN QUESTIONS

In this investigation of hospitalized cases of HG and subsequent births, we examine differences between patients who have and who have not experienced migration as well as the effect of HG on perinatal outcome.

METHODS

Retrospective quantitative data of hospitalized patients suffering from HG (1997-2015) was analyzed. Also analyzed was a retrospective record of perinatal data on a subgroup of patients (2002-2016), and a control group (matched pairs) based on the register of births created.

RESULTS

1103 women with HG were hospitalized; in 434 cases birth outcome data could be evaluated as well. Migrants suffer from HG earlier in pregnancy; they are, however, less frequently exposed to psychosocial stress (according to anamnestic data). HG patients are younger and have more multiple pregnancies; the newborns are lighter (-70g) but have fewer congenital malformations (aOR 0.32, 95% CI 0.11-0.96) and are less frequently in need of treatment on the neonatology ward (aOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.36-0.97).

CONCLUSION

Pregnant migrants are a special risk group for HG, possibly because of migration-caused stress. With severe HG, there are no adverse outcomes on the rest of the pregnancy.

Growth/Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15): From Biomarker to Novel Targetable Immune Checkpoint

Growth/differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), also named macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1, is a divergent member of the transforming growth factor β superfamily. While physiological expression is barely detectable in most somatic tissues in humans, GDF-15 is abundant in placenta. Elsewhere, GDF-15 is often induced under stress conditions, seemingly to maintain cell and tissue homeostasis; however, a moderate increase in GDF-15 blood levels is observed with age. Highly elevated GDF-15 levels are mostly linked to pathological conditions including inflammation, myocardial ischemia, and notably cancer. GDF-15 has thus been widely explored as a biomarker for disease prognosis. Mechanistically, induction of anorexia via the brainstem-restricted GDF-15 receptor GFRAL (glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor [GDNF] family receptor α-like) is well-documented. GDF-15 and GFRAL have thus become attractive targets for metabolic intervention. Still, several GDF-15 mediated effects (including its physiological role in pregnancy) are difficult to explain via the described pathway. Hence, there is a clear need to better understand non-metabolic effects of GDF-15. With particular emphasis on its immunomodulatory potential this review discusses the roles of GDF-15 in pregnancy and in pathological conditions including myocardial infarction, autoimmune disease, and specifically cancer. Importantly, the strong predictive value of GDF-15 as biomarker may plausibly be linked to its immune-regulatory function. The described associations and mechanistic data support the hypothesis that GDF-15 acts as immune checkpoint and is thus an emerging target for cancer immunotherapy.

Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum

Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) is a common condition that affects as many as 70% of pregnant women. Although no consensus definition is available for hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), it is typically viewed as the severe form of NVP and has been reported to occur in 0.3-10.8% of pregnant women. HG can be associated with poor maternal, fetal and child outcomes. The majority of women with NVP can be managed with dietary and lifestyle changes, but more than one-third of patients experience clinically relevant symptoms that may require fluid and vitamin supplementation and/or antiemetic therapy such as, for example, combined doxylamine/pyridoxine, which is not teratogenic and may be effective in treating NVP. Ondansetron is commonly used to treat HG, but studies are urgently needed to determine whether it is safer and more effective than using first-line antiemetics. Thiamine (vitamin B1) should be introduced following protocols to prevent refeeding syndrome and Wernicke encephalopathy. Recent advances in the genetic study of NVP and HG suggest a placental component to the aetiology by implicating common variants in genes encoding placental proteins (namely GDF15 and IGFBP7) and hormone receptors (namely GFRAL and PGR). New studies on aetiology, diagnosis, management and treatment are under way. In the next decade, progress in these areas may improve maternal quality of life and limit the adverse outcomes associated with HG.