Safety of quinacrine contraceptive pellets: results from 10-year follow-up in Vietnam.
BACKGROUND
This study was conducted to evaluate long-term safety of quinacrine pellets for nonsurgical sterilization among women in Vietnam.


METHODS
Observational cohort study of 2735 women who had quinacrine insertions between 1989 and 1993 compared to 1623 women who received an intrauterine device (IUD).


RESULTS
Cumulative follow-up times for the quinacrine and IUD cohorts were 28,697 and 17,382 person-years, respectively, and losses to follow-up were 6% and 7%, respectively. Quinacrine users had a higher incidence of ectopic pregnancy compared to IUD users (risk ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-4.54); the risks of cancer, hysterectomy, pelvic/gynecologic surgery and death were similar in the two groups. Two quinacrine insertions appeared to lower the risk of ectopic pregnancy to that of surgical tubal occlusion.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of quinacrine in this cohort appeared to have minimal health risks. Other research, including preclinical studies, needs to be considered in an overall evaluation of whether the combination of safety and efficacy provide a basis for quinacrine's approval by appropriate regulatory agencies.
Sokal
David C
DC
Family Health International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. dsokal@fhi.org
Hieu
Do Trong
do T
Loan
Nguyen Dinh
ND
Hubacher
David
D
Nanda
Kavita
K
Weiner
Debra H
DH
Vach
Trinh Huu
TH
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D011796:Quinacrine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012449:Safety; D013245:Sterilization, Reproductive / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014744:Vietnam; D016387:Women's Health
D011796:Quinacrine