EFFECTS ON THE HEMOSTATIC SYSTEM AND LIVER-FUNCTION IN RELATION TO IMPLANON((R)) AND NORPLANT((R)) - A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED CLINICAL-TRIAL

In this prospective randomized clinical trial, two long-term contracep tive implants were studied with respect to hemostasis and liver functi on in 86 healthy young women. The two implants used were Implanon(R), containing the progestagen etonogestrel (the biologically active metab olite of desogestrel) and Norplant(R), the implant containing the prog estagen levonorgestrel. The results of the trial showed that both impl ants had similar small effects on the hemostatic system that are not s uggestive of a tendency towards thrombosis. The effect on liver functi on was characterized by increases in total bilirubin and gamma-glutamy l transferase and decreases in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.