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Table 5-1

Differential Diagnosis of Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancya

Gastrointestinal conditions

  • Gastroenteritis

  • Gastroparesis

  • Achalasia

  • Biliary tract disease

  • Hepatitis

  • Intestinal obstruction

  • Peptic ulcer disease

  • Pancreatitis

  • Appendicitis

Conditions of the genitourinary tract

  • Pyelonephritis

  • Uremia

  • Ovarian torsion

  • Kidney stones

  • Degenerating uterine leiomyoma

Metabolic conditions

  • Diabetic ketoacidosis

  • Porphyria

  • Addison disease

  • Hyperthyroidism

  • Hyperparathyroidism

Neurologic disorders

  • Pseudotumor cerebri

  • Vestibular lesions

  • Migraine headaches

  • Tumors of the central nervous system

  • Lymphocytic hypophysitis

Miscellaneous conditions

  • Drug toxicity or intolerance

  • Psychological condition

Pregnancy-related conditions

  • Acute fatty liver of pregnancy

  • Preeclampsia

  • “Morning sickness”

  • Hyperemesis gravidarum


aAdapted from GoodwinTM. Hyperemesis gravidarum. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2008;35(3):401-417, viii. Copyright © 2008 Elsevier. With permission.