Is family history sufficient to identify women with risk of venous thromboembolism before commencing the contraceptive pill?
Oral contraceptives (OGs) increase risk of venous thromboembolic disease (VTE). The incidence of thomboembolic disease in healthy young women who are not taking OCs is 0.4-0.8/10,000, and in healthy young women using OCs, it is 3-4/10,000. To assess whether a family history of thromboembolism is a suitable tool to identify women who should not be given OCs, 50 women who suffered a VTE while taking OCs were studied. Only 16% of these women had family history which is why in our opinion, it is not a sufficient safeguard to recommending the use of OCs.
Department of Clinical Pathology, La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain. aznar_jus@gva.es
Justo
J
Aznar
Yolanda
Y
Mira
Amparo
A
Vayá
Fernando
F
Ferrando
Piedad
P
Villa
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D000075202:Contraindications; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000097:blood; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral