New form of Pill linked to blood clots
Wednesday November 9th, 2011
Women taking oral contraceptives containing a synthetic progestin called drospirenone face an increased risk of dangerous blood clots, researchers warned yesterday.
All types of "the pill" carry a raised risk of dangerous blood clots called venous and arterial thrombosis. The pills vary in type of progestin, either second-generation (levonorgestrel and norgestrel), third-generation (desogestrel, gestodene and norgestimate), or newer (chlormadinone acetate and drospirenone).
Drospirenone is promoted as causing less weight gain and fluid retention, but it has been linked to a raised thrombotic risk.
Dr Naomi Gronich, of Clalit Health Services, Haifa, Israel, and colleagues ran a study using figures on 329,995 women who took oral contraceptives between 2002 and 2008, and were followed until 2009. Prescriptions of drospirenone-based pills showed a major rise over the years.
An elevated risk of venous thrombotic events was found for drospirenone users compared with users of second- and third-generation pills. It was highest in the early months of use.
Full results appear in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Dr Gronich says drospirenone "was associated with a significantly increased risk of venous thrombotic events (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) but not arterial thrombotic events (transient ischemic attack and cerebrovascular accident)."
The authors warn: "It is important to raise awareness of the increased, albeit small, risk of venous thromboembolism, especially among those who are older or obese."
Commenting on the study, Dr Susan Solymoss of McGill University, Montreal, Canada, points out: "The absolute difference in incidence of venous thromboembolism between different oral contraceptives is small. Therefore, our primary focus should be to carefully consider suitable alternatives to combined oral contraceptives for women otherwise at elevated risk."
Solymos, S. Risks of venous thromboembolism with oral contraceptives. The Canadian Medical Association Journal, published online November 7, 2011.
Tags: Asia | Pharmaceuticals | Women’s Health & Gynaecology
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