[Microcirculation and oral contraceptives]

A microvascular "condition" associated with the contraceptive Pill does exist; it explains in those "priviledged" women certain functional symptoms and minor venous incidence such as telangiectasia. We still have to prove the direct and particular relation. Documents and statistics are few and far between ; the reasons for this are the difficulty in obtaining them, the pharmaceutical form, and individual vascular response. A regional investigation was carried out over four years in a homogenous population shows only four cases of telangiectasia. Clinical and experimental facts enable us to discuss the pathogeny. Excessive permeability and capillaro-venular neogenesis are at its basis and, mutatis mutandis, we can compare gravid histangiopathy and functional histangiopathy of the Pill, there being no fibrinoid necrosis. We are able to observe under capillaroscopy the same phenomenon in the base of the nail, as in the ocular conjunctiva: this stems from excessive permeability and its effects of interstitial constriction on the microvessels when the lymphatic drainage is flooded. Corrective treatment is possible.