Fogari R, Zoppi A, Poletti L, Marzo A, Muggellini A, Lusardi
P
Influence of oral contraceptive pill on ambulatory blood
pressure in normotensive women
12th Annual ASH MeetingCAPD Conference
Am J Hypertens
(Apr) 10:151A 1997
The effect of oral contraceptive pills on office blood pressure has
been previously studied. This study looks at the effect of oral
contraceptives on ambulatory blood pressure in normotensive young
women
47 non-smoker, normotensive women age 19-30, were studied. After a 4
week washout period women were randomized to oral contraceptive pills
or placebo for twelve weeks then crossed over to the other treatment
for another 12 weeks. Ambulatory Blood Pressure was measured during
the follicular phase (day 3-8) during each treatment. 24 hour (119/68
placebo, 199/73 control), daytime (119/71 placebo, and 122/76 control)
and nighttime (104/58 placebo, 113/67 control) systolic and diastolic
blood pressure significantly increased with oral birth control
treatment. The blood pressures although elevated remained in the
normal range.
Comment: The authors concluded that oral contraceptives
increased blood pressure particularly at night. Baseline ambulatory
blood pressure was not measured. This would be a means of looking at
reproducibility of the ambulatory blood pressure readings. The
randomization to placebo or treatment order should help eliminate the
effect of treatment order and the effect of the patients being
accustomed to wearing the monitor. (Betsy Ripley, M.D., Medical
College of Virginia)
To go back use the BACK button on your browser.
Otherwise click on the desired link to this article below:
12th Annual ASH MeetingCAPD Conference
H: Special problems :
Women
H: Exam and lab tests :
Ambulatory monitoring