A novel approach to hyperemesis gravidarum: evaluation by a visual analogue scale score and treatment with transdermal clonidine.

Abstract

A preliminary report on the symptomatic effect of clonidine in severe hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Observational. Hospital based: Ospedale Sant'Anna, Torino, Italy. Twelve pregnant women, 8-16 weeks, affected by severe, refractory HG. Assessment by two clinical score indexes: Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE) score and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) 5-item questionnaire, filled out daily, to detect subjective improvement or worsening of symptoms. PUQE score and VAS score before and after transdermal clonidine treatment. We found substantial improvement of symptoms and severity score indexes after four and 14 days. The comparison of pretreatment and post-treatment scores shows a significant statistical difference P < 0.0001. Transdermal clonidine may be considered as a treatment for resistant severe HG.