EFFECT OF ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES ON THE LIVER IN WOMEN WITH RECURRENT CHOLESTASIS (HEPATOSIS) DURING PREVIOUS PREGNANCIES

Abstract

Summary The hepatic effects of various sex steroids on 61 women who had had intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and 19 control patients have been studied. Chlormadinone acetate and lynestrenol produced little or no increase of the serum enzyme activity. With the mestranol and a combined preparation of mestranol and chlormadinone acetate an increase of the serum enzyme activity was found, which, however, soon returned towards normal. No increase in the concentration of the serum bilirubin was found in any of the patients. The supposed risk of jaundice during the use of hormone contraceptives by such patients has been exaggerated.