Abstract:
This is a descriptive cross sectional study which was conducted in Khartoum state in the
period from February 2011 to May 2011 to evaluate the effect of contraceptive pills
(combined & progestin only pills) on coagulation tests (Prothrombin Time (PT),
Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT), Thrombin Time (TT), and Fibrinogen
level. One hundred females were selected as volunteers according to inclusion criteria
and considered as case, and other twenty females not taken these pills, were selected and
considered as control.
79% of the cases were under Combined Oral Contraceptive (COC), and the other 21%
were under Progestin Only pills (POP), 26% of cases were used the oral contraceptives
for less than six months, while 74% for more than six months. The age of the cases were
categorized into two groups, 51% in age group less than thirty years and 49% in age
group more than thirty years. 4.5 ml of fresh venous blood were collected from each
volunteer, after filling the questionnaire, in plastic container containing 0.5 ml of 3.8%
trisodium citrate solution for anticoagulation. Then the contents of the container were
mixed and centrifuged at 3000 round/min for 15 minutes for preparation of platelets poor
plasma (PPP). The PPP were tested for the PT, APTT, TT, and fibrinogen level by using
the coagulometer instrument (Clot). The results were analyzed by independent T test of
the SPSS computer programme. The results of cases revealed that TT= 9.1 seconds,
APTT= 33.4 seconds, Fibrinogen level= 266 mg/dl, and PT= 14.0 seconds. The results of
control group revealed that TT= 9.8 seconds, APTT= 30.7 seconds, Fibrinogen level=
249 mg/dl, and PT= 13.4 seconds.
Over all the results were showed significant shortened in TT and increased in APTT
when compared with control group with P value < 0.05, and no significant variations
were noticed in both PT and fibrinogen level with P value > 0.05 and this indicate the
hypercoagulability. No significant changes were noticed between age groups, type and
duration of oral contraceptives.
