title: Prospective measurement of blood pressure and heart rate over 24 h in women using combined oral contraceptives with estradiol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) containing ethinyl-estradiol are known to increase blood pressure (BP). We evaluated whether COCs containing estradiol (E2) influence 24-h ambulatory BP and heart rate (HR) in normotensive and normal-weight women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four-hour BP and HR were measured every 30 min with an ambulatory BP device in 18 normotensive healthy non-smoking women prior to (Days 3-6 of menstrual cycle) and after 6 months of use (Days 20-24 of cycle 6) of a COC containing either a quadriphasic combination of E2 valerate plus dienogest (n=11) or a monophasic association of micronized E2 plus nomegestrol acetate (n=7).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age and body mass index of the final sample were 32.50±7.49 years and 22.87±4.08, respectively. E2-based COCs induced no modification of 24-h systolic BP (+1.65±8.34 mmHg; p=.41), diastolic BP (+0.04±7.36 mmHg; p=.98), mean BP (+0.64±6.42 mmHg; p=.68) or HR (-0.72±5.86 beats/min; p=.61). Differences were not observed even when daytime or nighttime values were separately considered. Though this was not a comparative study, we did not find differences between the effects of the two formulations (24-h mean BP; p=.699).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest a neutral effect of estradiol-based COCs on independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as BP or HR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BP and HR of normotensive women are not increased by E2-based COCs.
authors: Department of Obstetrics Gynecology and Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Azienda Policlinico of Modena, 41121 Modena, Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Grandi
authors: Department of Obstetrics Gynecology and Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Azienda Policlinico of Modena, 41121 Modena, Italy.
authors: Anjeza
authors: A
authors: Xholli
authors: Department of Obstetrics Gynecology and Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Azienda Policlinico of Modena, 41121 Modena, Italy.
authors: Antonella
authors: A
authors: Napolitano
authors: Department of Obstetrics Gynecology and Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Azienda Policlinico of Modena, 41121 Modena, Italy.
authors: Ilaria
authors: I
authors: Piacenti
authors: Department of Obstetrics Gynecology and Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Azienda Policlinico of Modena, 41121 Modena, Italy.
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Bellafronte
authors: Department of Obstetrics Gynecology and Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Azienda Policlinico of Modena, 41121 Modena, Italy. Electronic address: cagnacci@unimore.it.
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Cagnacci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004958:Estradiol
keywords: Blood pressure; Contraception; Dienogest; Estradiol; Heart rate; Nomegestrol acetate