Effects of three combined oral contraceptive preparations containing desogestrel plus ethinyl estradiol on lipid metabolism in comparison with two levonorgestrel preparations.
The effects of three different desogestrel-containing combined oral contraceptive preparations on lipid metabolism were compared with those of two levonorgestrel preparations. The following preparations were studied: (1) monophasic desogestrel (150/30), (2) monophasic desogestrel (150/20, containing 20 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol instead of 30 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol, (3) biphasic desogestrel, (4) monophasic levonorgestrel (150/30), and (5) triphasic levonorgestrel. The effects of these preparations were assessed on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein B, the ratio of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and the ratio of apolipoprotein A-I to apolipoprotein B after 3 months of treatment, and the percentage changes with regard to pretreatment were calculated. The monophasic desogestrel (150/30) and biphasic desogestrel preparations induced higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I levels than did their levonorgestrel-containing counterparts. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were increased in monophasic levonorgestrel and clearly decreased in the lowest ethinyl estradiol-containing monophasic desogestrel (150/20) and biphasic desogestrel preparations. Apolipoprotein B increased in all preparations. The antiatherogenic indexes (ratios of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I to apolipoprotein B were higher for monophasic desogestrel (150/30) and biphasic desogestrel than for comparable levonorgestrel-containing preparations. The differences seen between the desogestrel and levonorgestrel preparations can best be explained by the lower intrinsic androgenicity of 3-keto-desogestrel (active metabolite of desogestrel) than that of levonorgestrel.
Kloosterboer
H J
HJ
Organon Scientific Development Group Oss, The Netherlands.
Rekers
H
H
D000328:Adult; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017135:Desogestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000494:pharmacology*
D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D008055:Lipids; D009652:Norpregnenes; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D009644:Norgestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D017135:Desogestrel