title: Drospirenone and levonorgestrel in combination with either 30 or 20 mcg ethinylestradiol reduce soluble adhesion molecules in Brazilian women; cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of three contraceptive pills containing ethinylestradiol (EE) (20 or 30 mcg) in combination with drospirenone (DRSP) and levonorgestrel (LNG) on plasma concentration of adhesion molecules vascular cell adhesion molecule -1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted with 72 participants (18-30 years old) distributed into three groups that used oral contraceptives containing EE 20 or 30 mcg combined with DRSP 3 mg or EE 30 mcg/LNG 150 mcg for at least 6 months. The control group was comprised of nonusers of contraceptives. Soluble VCAM-1, soluble ICAM-1 and soluble E-selectin were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the control group, a significant decrease was found in VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 concentrations with use of DRSP/20 EE and LNG/30 EE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DRSP/20 EE and LNG/30 EE induce favorable changes in endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical, Toxicological and Bromatological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo,14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. bianca.sto@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stocco
authors.forename: Helen Figueiredo
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Fumagalli
authors.forename: Silvio Antônio
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Franceschini
authors.forename: Edson Zangiacomi
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Cleni Mara
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Marzocchi-Machado
authors.forename: Maria Regina Torqueti
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Toloi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000736:Androstenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001938:Brazil; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000736:Androstenes; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019040:E-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C534342:drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol combination; C072593:ethinyl estradiol, levonorgestrel drug combination; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D016912:Levonorgestrel