Effects of oral contraceptives on coagulation factors in African women.
Despite overwhelming evidence that the use of oral contraceptive pills (OCP) may lead to thrombotic episodes, no studies have been performed to investigate the effect of OCP on the coagulation profile in African women. We assessed the levels of fibrinogen, factors VIIc, and VIIIc as well as the fibrinolytic activity in 100 African women on OCP. Fibrinogen levels were significantly increased (p<0.001) and factors VIIc, VIIIc, and fibrinolytic activity significantly decreased (p<0.001) when compared with those of healthy women not on OCP. We conclude that the combination of hyperfibrinogenaemia and decreased fibrinolytic activity combined with a decrease in factor VIIc and VIIIc levels reflects a hemostatic imbalance in African women on OCP that needs to be investigated.
Department of Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
A A
AA
Famodu
W C
WC
Osadebe
D000328:Adult; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000187:drug effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria; D012307:Risk Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000139:chemically induced*
D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral