Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF ) Freely available
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (9)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Seaman, H.E.
Right arrow Articles by Farmer, R.D.T.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Seaman, H.E.
Right arrow Articles by Farmer, R.D.T.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Human Reproduction, Vol. 18, No. 3, 522-526, March 2003
© 2003 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

The risk of venous thromboembolism in women prescribed cyproterone acetate in combination with ethinyl estradiol: a nested cohort analysis and case–control study

H.E. Seaman1, C.S.de Vries and R.D.T. Farmer

Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Postgraduate Medical School (University of Surrey), Stirling House, The Surrey Research Park, Guildford GU2 7DJ, UK

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: h.seaman{at}surrey.ac.uk

BACKGROUND: Cyproterone acetate combined with ethinyl estradiol (CPA/EE) is licensed in the UK for the treatment of women with acne and hirsutism and is also a treatment option for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Previous studies have demonstrated an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) associated with CPA/EE compared with conventional combined oral contraceptives (COCs). We believe the results of those studies may have been affected by residual confounding. METHODS: Using the General Practice Research Database we conducted a cohort analysis and case–control study nested within a population of women aged between 15 and 39 years with acne, hirsutism or PCOS to estimate the risk of VTE associated with CPA/EE. RESULTS: The age-adjusted incidence rate ratio for CPA/EE versus conventional COCs was 2.20 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.35–3.58]. Using as the reference group women who were not using oral contraception, had no recent pregnancy or menopausal symptoms, the case–control analysis gave an adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) of 7.44 (95% CI 3.67–15.08) for CPA/EE use compared with an ORadj of 2.58 (95% CI 1.60–4.18) for use of conventional COCs. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated an increased risk of VTE associated with the use of CPA/EE in women with acne, hirsutism or PCOS although residual confounding by indication cannot be excluded.

Key words: acne/cyproterone acetate/ethinyl estradiol/polycystic ovary syndrome/venous thrombosis


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Diabetes CareHome page
P. Damm, E. R. Mathiesen, K. R. Petersen, and S. Kjos
Contraception After Gestational Diabetes
Diabetes Care, July 1, 2007; 30(Supplement_2): S236 - S241.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
S. Quenby, R.G. Farquharson, F. Dawood, A.M. Hughes, and J. Topping
Recurrent miscarriage and long-term thrombosis risk: a case-control study
Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2005; 20(6): 1729 - 1732.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.