Contraception (Birth Control) and Family Planning PubHealthInfo

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PubHealth.info® (a subsidiary of PakMed) presents scientific information mainly based on abstracts of articles published on a variety of public health issues/topics, particularly encompassing population planning, disease prevention, maternal and child health, and communicable and non-communicable diseases (like HIV AIDS, malaria, etc) that are affecting a significant portion of population in developing and developed countries. Here you can find abstracts of articles published on a variety of public health topics under category "Contraception (Birth Control) and Family Planning". Contraception (birth control) is a regimen of one or more actions, devices, or medications followed in order to deliberately prevent or reduce the likelihood of a woman becoming pregnant or giving birth. Therefore contraception is the utilization of various and sundry surgical procedures, devices, practices, agents, or drugs with the intention of preventing conception or impregnation (pregnancy). Methods and intentions typically termed birth control may be considered a pivotal ingredient to family planning. Birth control is a controversial political and ethical issue in many cultures and religions, and although it is generally less controversial than abortion specifically.

YEAR: 1968

CATEGORY: Contraception (Birth Control) and Family Planning

TITLE

High blood pressure and oral contraceptives: changes in plasma renin and

renin substrate and in aldosterone excretion.

AUTHORS

Newton MA; Sealey JE; Ledingham JG; Laragh JH

SOURCE

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 101(8): 1037-1045. August 15,

ABSTRACT

In order to investigate the suggested causal relationship between oral contraceptives and high blood pressure in

certain susceptible individuals, 11 female patients in whom the development or augmentation of hypertension was

associated with oral contraceptive use, and 3 male patients (2 normal, 1 hypertensive) also given orals were studied

for possible related changes in certain components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) hormonal interaction.

Complete reversal or considerable improvement in documented hypertension was observed after drug withdrawal in

6 of 9 patients. In 2 of these, readministration of oral contraceptives resulted in a return of hypertension along with

characteristic abnormalities in the RAA system. The most consistent attendant biochemical abnormality was

appearance of marked and persistent increases in the concentration of plasma angiotensinogen. Maximum effect on

renin substrate was observed to develop 4 days-2 weeks after oral concentrative therapy initiation, while 2-4 weeks or

longer after treatment withdrawal were needed for return of substrate levels to normal range. Results in 2 male

subjects suggest that both components of the oral contraceptives can stimulate renin substrate formation, with the

predominant effect being referable to the estrogen. Less consistently, transient or sustained increases in plasma

renin and in aldosterone were also observed. Parallel in vitro studies demonstrated that renin substrate is normally

not present in excess because the contraceptive-induced increased substrate concentration was always

accompanied by a significantly increased capacity for angiotensin formation when renin was added to the plasma.

Observed apparent increases in endogenous renin activity may have resulted from either an increase in plasma

reactivity or an increase in the true renin concentration, or both. Endogenous renin activity remained elevated in 4

patients with long-term administration or oral contraceptives. Factors which might sensitize to the pressor effect of

these drugs remain undefined. It seems possible that, in certain susceptible subjects, these induced hormonal

changes, together with associated changes in sodium metabolism, could compromise the buffer capacity of the

renin-angiotensin-aldosterone hormonal system, permitting exaggerated (pressor) responses to circulating renin

when it is released by the normal physiologic stimuli. These observations may also be relevant to the use of female

hormones in other clinical situations, and they may be applicable to the study of hypertension in experimental

models. (PubHealth.info Document ID: CONT9T 1073-06)

PubHealth.info NOTE: The author(s) of this article titled, "High blood pressure and oral contraceptives: changes in

plasma renin and renin substrate and in aldosterone excretion.", is(are) Newton MA; Sealey JE; Ledingham JG;

Laragh JH. The source of this article is "American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 101(8): 1037-1045. August

15, 1968.". This article was published in 1968 in English language(s). (PubHealth.info® Document ID: CONT9T

1073-06. All rights reserved with PubHealth.info) PIN: 41073

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