Evaluation of risk factors associated with vascular thrombosis in women on oral contraceptives. Possible role of anti-sex steroid hormone antibodies.
Women on oral contraceptives have an increased risk of thrombosis. The prevention of the vascular complications relies on the detection of women who are at risk. In order to find out which characteristics correlate with the occurrence of the vascular disease, 3 groups of women were compared; 50 oral contraceptive users with thrombosis, 50 healthy users, and 30 controls. Apart from the modality of oral contraception (duration of use, dose of estrogens), the following parameters were tested as possible risk factors: age, serum lipid levels, tobacco smoking, and especially presence of antiethinylestradiol antibodies (anti-EE ab) which we had previously shown to be induced by oral contraceptives in a number of women. Results indicated that the major risk factor associated with vascular thrombosis was the presence of anti-EE ab. Furthermore, the risk was highly increased by the association of tobacco smoking to anti-EE ab.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D008055:Lipids; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol