Effect of oral contraceptive on liver function tests of women with schistosomiasis in the Philippines.

ABSTRACT

PIP: A prospective study was undertaken to determine the effect on liver function test of a combined oral contraceptive containing norethisterone 1mg and mestranol 0.05mg, in women with schistosomiasis japonica in Leyte, Philippines. Women who volunteered and met the standard criteria for oral contraception, with and without infection, were followed for 6 months of pill intake. Cocurrently, non-pill users, both infected and uninfected, were similarly followed. Baseline and 6-month liver function tests were compared. Of the 466 subjects in the study, 383 completed six months, and 83 discontinued. At the start of the study, there were no significant differences among the 4 groups in liver function tests except that the infected women had a higher total protein and alkaline phosphatase, and lower alanine aminotrasferase levels. After 6 months, the only statistically significant finding was a lesser decrease in total protein among the infected pill users compared to the uninfected pill users. This finding was not clinically significant since there was no associated clinical complications; there were a number of subjects with abnormal values at the 6th month; and the mean values of this variable remained within normal limits. The findings show that the use of a low dose progestin and estrogen oral contraceptive in the presence of mild schistosomiasis japonica infection does not appear to have adverse effects on liver function tests of young women after 6 months of contraceptive use.