Changes in Antithrombin III and Plasminogen Induced by Oral Contraceptives

Abstract

Antithrombin 3 and plasminogen were measured in 33 women taking oral contraceptives in 33 women in the third trimester of pregnancy and in 19 control women. Antithrombin determined by a modification of the von KAULLA method was a mean of 30.2 seconds in controls 19.4 seconds in pill users and 19.6 seconds in pregnant women. Plasminogen determined by a modification of SWAIMs method was a mean 98.5% in controls 166.5% in pill users 152.8% in pregnant women and 185.9% in a group of 18 users of Ovulen (1 mg ethynodiol and .1 mg mestranol combined) who were treated for neurologic symptoms such as headaches dizziness or cerebrovascular accidents. All the experimental means differed significantly from the controls (p<.1%).