title: Increased capillary permeability for plasma proteins in oral contraceptive users.
abstract: The transcapillary fluid balance was examined in eleven women before administration of a monophasic oral contraceptive (desogestrel 0.15 mg, ethinylestradiol 0.03 mg), and after three and six months of use. The interstitial colloid osmotic pressure was measured by the "wick" method, and the interstitial hydrostatic pressure by the "wick-in-needle" method in subcutaneous tissue on thorax and leg. During the six-month observation period, the following changes were observed: Plasma colloid osmotic pressure decreased (mean 1.8 mmHg, p = 0.047), as well as serum albumin (mean 5.1 g/l, p = 0.0006), total protein concentration (mean 2.8 g/l, p = 0.0006), hemoglobin (mean 0.5 g/dl, p = 0.014) and hematocrit (mean 1.8%, p = 0.047). Blood pressure and body weight remained unchanged, but foot volume showed a significant increase. The colloid osmotic pressure gradient (plasma-interstitium) was significantly reduced. The results indicate an increase in plasma volume in addition to an increased capillary permeability to plasma proteins during oral contraceptive use. We suggest that the observed changes in transcapillary fluid balance is caused by the estrogen component of the oral contraceptive pill.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tollan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kvenild
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Strand
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oian
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Maltau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017135:Desogestrel; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D009995:Osmosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D006454:Hemoglobins; D009652:Norpregnenes; D012709:Serum Albumin; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D017135:Desogestrel