EFFECT OF LOW-DOSE ORAL TRIPHASIC CONTRACEPTIVES ON BLOOD-VISCOSITY, COAGULATION AND LIPID-METABOLISM

The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between hem orheological profile, i.e. blood viscosity, and other risk factors for cardiovascular and thrombotic diseases in women taking oral contracep tives and if blood viscosity may be considered a marker of cardiovascu lar risk in OC users. Plasma levels of coagulation parameters, serum l ipids, blood viscosity and RBC deformability were determined in a grou p of 10 women taking OC vs. 10 controls. The blood parameters were eva luated before OC use and thereafter at 3 and 6 months. A significant c hange in the partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, HDL and apolipop rotein A-I was observed, while the other parameters remained unchanged .Plasma viscosity was significantly increased during OC treatment; who le blood viscosity and RBC deformability remained unchanged. However, although some parameters were significantly modified during OC treatme nt, all alterations remained within the normal range of laboratory val ues. The data confirm that low-dose triphasic OC therapy does not affe ct significantly the coagulation system, serum lipid metabolism and bl ood viscosity. Plasma viscosity measurement may be considered as a mar ker for monitoring women using OC because it is apparently the most se nsitive parameter.