title: A combined oral contraceptive containing drospirenone changes neither endothelial function nor hemodynamic parameters in healthy young women: a prospective clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) may lead to a rise in cardiovascular disease risk, possibly associated with changes in blood pressure and endothelial function.
  
  
  METHODS
  The objective was to evaluate the impact of COC containing 20 mcg of ethinylestradiol (EE) and 3 mg of drospirenone (DRSP) on the arterial endothelial function, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP , respectively), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO) and total peripheral resistance (TPR) of healthy young women. Of the 71 women in the study, 43 were evaluated before the introduction of COC and after 6 months of its use (case group) and 28, COC nonusers, were assessed for the same parameters at the same time interval (control group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant changes in endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent functions or in measures of SBP, DBP, HR, CO and TPR caused by COC use were observed in the case group (p>.05 for all variables) or in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest COC with 20 mcg EE and 3 mg DRSP does not alter arterial endothelial function or hemodynamic parameters in healthy young women.
authors.affiliation: Clinics Hospital, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil. cgiribela@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Cassiana R G
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Giribela
authors.forename: Nilson R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Rita C G
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Valeria M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Grazia M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Edmund C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Baracat
authors.forename: Fernanda M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Consolim-Colombo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000736:Androstenes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000736:Androstenes; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004967:Estrogens; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; C035144:drospirenone