The International Collaboration for Hyperemesis Gravidarum Research in 2024 provided a unique opportunity for healthcare professionals and researchers to connect and share new knowledge about Hyperemesis Gravidarum.
Read selected abstracts.
Below you can find videos and slides from ICHG presentations!
(Note: The small fee will help cover the platform fee for the video hosting.)
Dr. Marlena Fejzo, PhD
The Search for a Cause
Dr. Marlena Fejzo discusses genetic research on hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). The study focuses on maternal and fetal genes, highlighting GWAS and exome sequencing approaches. In addition to key genes including GDF15 and IGFBP7, new genetic associations are identified with implications for appetite, insulin signaling, and brain function. The evolutionary context of nausea and vomiting is also discussed. The research aims to improve prediction, diagnosis, and treatment of HG through insights into genetic factors contributing to HG.
Presented at the International Colloquium of Hyperemesis Gravidarum (ICHG) 2024 conference in Ventura, California.
Sir Stephen O'Rahilly, MD
GDF15 and the Pathogenesis of Pregnancy Sickness
Professor Stephen O’Rahilly from the University of Cambridge discussed the collaborative work which discovered that GDF15 plays a major role in the pathophysiology of Hyperemesis Gravidarum. GDF15, a hormone of the TGF beta family, is made by the fetal component of the placenta and its circulating levels are higher in women with HG than in matched controls. Women’s sensitivity to the nauseating effects of this hormone vary in a way that is influenced by prior exposure to the hormone. Women with lower levels of GDF15 before pregnancy are more susceptible to developing HG. O’Rahilly’s lab had previously shown that metformin , a commonly used and largely safe drug elevates circulating levels of GDF15. In future trials, designed in partnership with sufferers, women with a history of HG will receive metformin or placebo prior to a planned pregnancy in order to determine whether the drug can reduce the incidence and/or severity of HG
Presented at the International Colloquium of Hyperemesis Gravidarum (ICHG) 2024 conference in Ventura, California.
Dr. Andrew Housholder, MD, FACEP
The Morning Sickness Clinic: A New Approach to Care
Join Dr. Andrew Housholder as he discusses the Morning Sickness and HG Clinic's new approach to treating hyperemesis gravidarum. Learn about the clinic's history, patient demographics, and treatment methods. Discover how early and aggressive treatment can significantly reduce hospitalizations and improve patient outcomes. The video also highlights the importance of medication management, data collection, and ongoing education to advance HG care.
Presented at the International Colloquium of Hyperemesis Gravidarum (ICHG) 2024 conference in Ventura, California.
Coming Soon
Dr. Marc Vaudel, PhD
Difficult Cases Roundtable Discussion
Dr. Joanne Lancaster, PhD
Dr. Tito Borner, PhD
Dr. Amy Valent, MD
Kimber W. MacGibbon, RN, BSN, MSGH
Ellie Lewis
Hyperemesis Gravidarum and Cannabis Use in an International Sample of Pregnant People presented by Ellie Lewis at the International Colloquium of Hyperemesis Gravidarum (ICHG) 2024 conference in Ventura, California.
Pre-order coming soon
Dr. Jennifer Fraser, PhD
Hyperemesis Histories: Charting the Evolution of HG Health Policy presented by Jennifer Fraser, PhD at the International Colloquium of Hyperemesis Gravidarum (ICHG) 2024 conference in Ventura, California.
Pre-order coming soon
Your Voice at ICHG
"I survived because of other women. Not doctors, not specialists. But because other women had formed communities of support for each other that offered the tools, the information, the 'you are not alone' validation to enable us to fight for our health care, an accurate diagnosis and the right medication."
Petra
Surrey, UK
"When I found out I was pregnant, it was the happiest day of my life and I couldn't wait for my pregnancy journey to start. Little did I know that it would be the most horrendous experience I would ever encounter. At just 7 weeks pregnant, I would find myself vomiting every half an hour to an hour, I couldn't eat or keep any kind of fluids down. By 8 weeks pregnant I was hospitalized with severe dehydration and put on IV fluids."
Lauren
Kent, England
