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Low-dose oral contraceptive effects on thromboelastogram criteria and relationship to hypercoagulability
Christopher M Zahn1, Dagoberto I Gonzalez, Cathleen Suto
1Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wilford Hall Air Force and Brooke Army Medical Centers, USA.
Objective:
The study was undertaken to assess hypercoagulability, by using thromboelastography, in women who use low-dose oral contraceptives (OCs).
Study Design:
Forty-three women using low-dose OCs (
Results:
Prior versus 3-month values for MA, alpha, and K were not significantly different (P values-K: 0.8; alpha:.34; MA: 0.49); power was adequate to detect small differences. The 3-month R time was decreased compared with pre-OC values (P =.025), although the magnitude of this change was not characteristic of hypercoagulability. Comparison according to progestin type demonstrated no difference.
Conclusion:
We found no significant trend toward hypercoagulability in women who used low-dose OCs and who otherwise had no known thromboembolic risks.