Safety of hormonal steroid contraceptive use for hepatitis B virus carrierwomen

To investigate the relationship between hormonal steroid contraception and liver function in HBsAg positive women, 159 HBsAg positive women with norma l liver function and negative anti-HBc-IgM are collected for a non-randomiz ed comparative trial, 78 in low dose combined OC group and 81 in control gr oup. Follow up observations will be at three and six months after admission . During the observation, no significant differences between two groups are found including serum GPT, albumin, serum bilirubin and prothrombin time. However in the OC group, there is one case who has had a transient moderate abnormal SGPT. No any hepatitis manifestations are found in both groups. T he current primary study supports the safety of low dose OCs in HBsAg posit ive women. However, additional investigations in larger sample are needed. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.