Low-dose oral contraceptives and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 1997

Authors

cardoso, f (Author) Other; polonia, j (Author) FMUP; santos, a (Author) FCNAUP; silva-carvalho, j (Author) Other; ferreira-de-almeida, j (Author) Other

Journal

Title: International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Vol. 59

Pages: 237-243

ISSN: 0020-7292

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 47 Citations

Scopus - 60 Citations

Pubmed / Medline

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

CORDIS: Health sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-001-A71

DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7292(97)00239-7

Abstract (EN): Objective: To evaluate in normotensive women the influence of low-dose oral contraceptives (OC, monophasic formulations containing 30 mu g of estrogen) on 24-h blood pressure. Methods: We evaluated prospectively in 15 normotensive healthy women (three smokers) the influence of OC on 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). ABPM was performed (SpaceLabs 90207) before and after 6-9 months of use of OC. We also evaluated ABPM in eight women (two smokers) before and after 6-8 months on an intrauterine device (IUD) as contraceptive method - these were used as control subjects. Results: OC produced a significant increase in 24-h ABPM values (from 120 +/- 3/75 +/- 2 to 128 +/- 4/81 +/- 2 mmHg, P < 0.04) which was particularly evident for night-time values (from 108 +/- 2/64 +/- 2 to 120 +/- 4/73 +/- 2 mmHg, P < 0.02). After OC, two normotensive women developed 'hypertensive values'. In OC users there was a slight but significant increase in body weight which did not correlate with the increase of blood pressure. In contrast, in the control group (IUD) neither ABPM values nor weight were modified by the contraceptive maneuver. Conclusions: In normotensive women, low-dose OC may increase blood pressure to an extent that, at least in some women, may affect blood pressure control towards 'hypertensive values'. This stresses the importance of monitoring blood pressure values during OC treatment. (C) 1997 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7