Third generation oral contraceptive use and cardiovascular risk factors.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To analyze the relationship between third generation oral contraceptive (OC) use and various cardiovascular risk factors--including markers of inflammation--in a population-based sample.

STUDY POPULATION AND METHODS:

Data on OC use were obtained from women, aged 25-44 years participating in the MONICA Augsburg survey 1994-1995. Complete data were available from 841 women. Third generation OCs were defined as OCs containing desogestrel or gestodene, the remaining OC products were summarized in the group "other OC."

RESULTS:

Women taking third generation OCs had significantly higher C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, plasma viscosity, and HDL-cholesterol concentrations compared to the "other OC" group and non-users. In contrast, LDL-cholesterol was identical in the three groups. The analyses of interaction between smoking and OC use revealed that smoking women taking third generation pills had a less favourable pattern concerning inflammatory markers compared to women not on OC or using other products.

CONCLUSION:

Potentially harmful effects of OCs may arise from their positive association with the acute phase response. There is a close relationship with inflammatory markers in particular in women taking third generation OCs, which may, at least in part, contribute to the increased atherothrombotic risk, reported specifically in these women.

• Authors: Angela Döring, Margit Fröhlich, Hannelore Löwel, Wolfgang Koenig
• Journal: Atherosclerosis (Atherosclerosis) Vol. 172 Issue 2 Pg. 281-6 (Feb 2004) ISSN: 0021-9150 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 15019538 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cholesterol, HDL
• Cholesterol, LDL
• Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic
• Norpregnenes
• Gestodene
• Desogestrel
• Fibrinogen
• C-Reactive Protein

Topics

• Adult
• Blood Viscosity
• C-Reactive Protein (analysis)
• Cardiovascular Diseases (chemically induced)
• Cholesterol, HDL (blood)
• Cholesterol, LDL (blood)
• Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic (adverse effects)
• Desogestrel (adverse effects)
• Female
• Fibrinogen (analysis)
• Humans
• Norpregnenes (adverse effects)
• Risk Factors
• Smoking (adverse effects)