Researchers at USC have uncovered nine additional genes associated with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), the most severe form of pregnancy sickness. Six of those genes had never before been connected to the condition.
The same research team previously identified the hormone-producing gene GDF15 as a major contributor to pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting. The latest findings greatly expand scientists' understanding of the genetics behind HG and may point toward new ways to prevent or treat it.
A Severe and Often Misunderstood Condition
HG affects about 2% of women and causes extreme nausea and vomiting that can make eating and drinking very difficult. In serious cases, the condition can lead to severe malnutrition and threaten the health of both the mother and baby.
For years, HG was poorly understood and sometimes dismissed as a psychological problem. A growing body of evidence now shows that it has strong biological and genetic roots.
