Thrombotic Risk of Women with Hereditary Antithrombin III-, Protein C- and Protein S-Deficiency Taking Oral Contraceptive Medication

Ingrid Pabinger; Barbara Schneider; I Scharrer; V Hach-Wunderle; K Lechner; S Eichinger; P A Kyrle; H Vinazzer; B Lämmle; F Demarmels-Biasiutti; V Tilsner; G Marx; E Scifricd; A Gabelmann; G Aspöck; M Fischer; W M Halbmaycr; The GTH Study Group on Natural Inhibitors; GTH (Gesellschaft für Thrombose- und Hämostaseforschung) Study Group on Natural Inhibitors:

doi:10.1055/s-0038-1642480

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 1994; 71(05): 548-552
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1642480

Review Article

Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Thrombotic Risk of Women with Hereditary Antithrombin III-, Protein C- and Protein S-Deficiency Taking Oral Contraceptive Medication

Authors

Ingrid Pabinger

^*Institute for Medical Statistics, University of Vienna, Austria
Barbara Schneider

^*First Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Blood Coagulation and Institute for Medical Statistics, University of Vienna, Austria

The GTH Study Group on Natural Inhibitors

GTH (Gesellschaft für Thrombose- und Hämostaseforschung) Study Group on Natural Inhibitors:

I Scharrer

Dept. of Angiology, Dept. Med., University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany
V Hach-Wunderle

Dept. of Angiology, Dept. Med., University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany
K Lechner

Dept. of Hematology and Blood Coagulation, First Dept. Med., University Hospital Vienna, Austria
S Eichinger

Dept. of Hematology and Blood Coagulation, First Dept. Med., University Hospital Vienna, Austria
P A Kyrle

Dept. of Hematology and Blood Coagulation, First Dept. Med., University Hospital Vienna, Austria
H Vinazzer

Blood Coagulation Laboratory, Linz, Austria
B Lämmle

Central Hematology Laboratory, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Switzerland
F Demarmels-Biasiutti

Central Hematology Laboratory, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Switzerland
V Tilsner

Dept. of Surgery, University Hospital Hamburg, Germany
G Marx

Dept. of Surgery, University Hospital Hamburg, Germany
E Scifricd

Medical University Clinic III, Ulrn, Germany
A Gabelmann

Medical University Clinic III, Ulrn, Germany
G Aspöck

Central Laboratory, Krankenhaus Weis, Austria
M Fischer

Central Laboratory, Krankenhaus der Stadt Wien-Lainz, Vienna, Austria
W M Halbmaycr

Central Laboratory, Krankenhaus der Stadt Wien-Lainz, Vienna, Austria

Abstract

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Summary

The thrombotic risk of women with a heterozygous natural clotting inhibitor deficiency taking oral contraceptives (OC) has not been evaluated. Therefore, a retrospective collaborative controlled cohort-study was carried out in 8 coagulation laboratories and thrombosis units in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

The incidence of thromboembolism in 48 females heterozygous for hereditary type I deficiency of antithrombin ITT (n = 1.5), protein C. (n = 16) or protein S (n = 17), who had taken OC at least once in their life were compared with that of 48 deficient women, who had never taken OC (controls). Diagnosis of the deficiency state was made in the participating centers. Data on the onset and duration of OC intake and the date and site of thrombotic events were obtained from a questionnaire filled in by the patient or a physician during a visit at a participating center. The observation period in the OC patients was started with onset of OC intake and was terminated when a thromboembolic event had occurred or when OC medication were discontinued. In the patients without OC, the observation period began at an age matched to that of the OC patient and ended when a thromboembolic event had occurred or was continued as long as the corresponding OC patient was on treatment.

In AT Ill-deficient females the probability for thrombosis was significantly higher for patients taking OC compared to the non-OC-patients (Wilcoxon test p = 0.004, Log Rank test p = 0.005). In patients with protein C- ((3-error 0.8) and protein S-deficiency ((3-error 0.05) there was no significant difference between the OC- and non-OC-group. The incidence of thrombosis/patient year in AT III-, PC- and PS-deficient females on OC was 27.5%, 12% and 6.5%, respectively and 3.4%, 6.9% and 8.6%, respectively, in the control patients.

We conclude that females with hereditary antithrombin Ill-deficiency are at high risk for venous thromboembolism when taking OC. Therefore, OC should be strictly avoided in these females and AT III measurement is mandatory in female relatives of AT Ill-deficient patients at young age before starting OC. There is no evidence for an excess thrombotic risk by OC intake in PS-deficient females. In protein C-deficient women OC medication was not associated with a significant increase of thrombosis, but an increased risk cannot be excluded.

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References

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