title: Combined oral contraceptive containing drospirenone does not modify 24-h ambulatory blood pressure but increases heart rate in healthy young women: prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension is a primary cardiovascular risk factor. Oral contraceptives (OCs) may increase blood pressure and cardiovascular events. We evaluated whether an OC containing ethynylestradiol (EE) in association with the spironolactone-derived progestin drospirenone (DRSP) influences 24-h ambulatory blood pressure of normotensive women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four-hour blood pressure was measured every 30 min by an ambulatory blood pressure device in 18 normotensive healthy women prior to and after 6 months of use of an OC containing 30 mcg EE and 3 mg DRSP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OC induced no modification in 24-h, nighttime and daytime blood pressure. Heart rate increased about 4 beats/min in the 24-h (p<.05) and daytime (p<.02) measurements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In normotensive women, an OC containing 30 mcg EE plus 3 mg DRSP does not modify blood pressure, and significantly increases 24-h and daytime heart rate. These data suggest a neutral effect on hypertension-associated cardiovascular risk and point out an unreported effect on heart rate of which cause and effect require further evaluation.
authors: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, University of Modena, Modena, Italy. cagnacci@unimore.it
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Cagnacci
authors: Serena
authors: S
authors: Ferrari
authors: Antonella
authors: A
authors: Napolitano
authors: Ilaria
authors: I
authors: Piacenti
authors: Serenella
authors: S
authors: Arangino
authors: Annibale
authors: A
authors: Volpe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000736:Androstenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000736:Androstenes; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; C035144:drospirenone
keywords: Ambulatory monitoring; Blood pressure; Diurnal; Drospirenone; Heart rate; Hypertension; Oral contraceptives