The effects of two phasic oral contraceptives on hemostasis and platelet function

Abstract

Objective." To compare the effects on hemostatic parameters of a combiphasic oral contraceptive containing desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol (DSG/EE) and a triphasic oral contraceptive containing levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol (LNG/EE). Methods:In an open-label, randomized, group-comparative study in 10 healthy volunteers per treatment group, the effects on parameters of coagulation, anticoagulafion, fibrinolysis, anfifibrinolysis and platelet function were determined at baseline, after three treatment cycles, and after a post-treatment cycle. Changes from baseline were analyzed using a paired t-test, whereas betweengroup differences were analyzed by means of an analysis of co-variance.Results: Both OC preparations induced modest changes of some coagulation, anticoagulation, fibrinolysis and antifibrinolysis parameters, although all mean values remained within the normal range. No significant effects were observed with either OC with respect to platelet function. Statistically significant differences between the two preparations could occasionally be observed: the concentrations of anfithrombin III (AT-III) and Factor VII were higher with the DSG/EE preparation than with the LNG/EE preparation at the end of treatment and AT-III activity, AT-III concentration, Factor X concentration, and plasminogen activity were higher with DSG/EE than with LNG/EE in the post-treatment cycle.Conclusions: Combiphasic DSG/EE and triphasic LNG/EE, both OCs with a comparable amount of EE per cycle, had no clinically significant effect on the overall hemostatic balance. 228Weinges et al.

A comparative study of the hemostatic effects of two monophasic oral contraceptives containing 30 μg ethinylestradiol and either 2 mg chlormadinone acetate or 150 μg desogestrel

“…Pabingrr And Schneider' showed that the incidences of deep vein thrombosis among wonien with antithronibin 111, protein C and protein S deficiencies were 27.596, 12%) and 6.5%, respectively, if these woiiien were on the pill, and 3.4%1, 6.9% and 8. 6'%, respectively, if other contraceptive measures were used. Only i n protein S-deficient woiiieri was the oral contraceptive tnedicatiori not associated with an increase in the incidence of thrombosis'.…”