title: Chloasma, oral contraceptives, and plasma immunoreactive beta-melanocyte-stimulating hormone.
abstract: Plasma immunoreactive beta-melanocyte stimulating hormone (beta-MSH) has been measured in patients taking a progestogen-only oral contraceptive and in patients taking combined estrogen-progestogen therapy, of whom some had chloasma. Plasma levels did not differ significantly from those in a group of age- and sex-matched controls. It is concluded that the pigmentation of chloasma is not due to increased plasma concentrations of immunoreactive beta-MSH.
mesh_terms: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008234:Lynestrenol / Q000009:adverse effects; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D008234:Lynestrenol