[The antibaby pill as a risk factor for thrombosis: are the molecular mechanisms known?]

Oral contraceptives are being associated with an increased risk of thrombosis. Measurements of clotting factor abnormalities in plasma can not predict the individual risk of thrombosis, nor can they explain the pathophysiology of the clinically known association of thrombosis and oral contraceptives. Research conducted over the last 10 years points to the important role of endothelial cells, fibroblasts and monocytes in the regulation of the initiation of coagulation. Hence we propose, that the molecular mechanism of oral contraceptive associated thrombosis can only be elucidated by studies looking at the effect of these drugs on cellular elements involved in coagulation. Measurements of plasmatic coagulation factors can not indicate safety or risk for a patient taking any of the multiple drugs available.