Abstract

EVALUATION OF ELEVATED FACTOR VIII IN ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE USERS

Khalid A. Mahmood and Meroj A. Jasem*

ABSTRACT

Background: Recently elevated factor VIII become increasingly the most common cause of thrombosis, many studies reported a 10% of normal population with elevated factor VIII more than 150iu/ml . Sustained Increase in factor VIII level reported in response to acute phase reaction, malignancy ,inflammation,pregnancy,Estrogen and in response to oral contraceptive pills . Many studies report 4-6 folds increase risk of thrombosis in women on oral contraception and elevated factor VIII level, furthermore there is still a familial tendency for high factor VIII level for which no cause has yet been found within factor VIII gene. Objectives: This study was designed to assess the level of factor VIII in women on oral contraceptive pills and correlate this level with duration of drug intake. Methods: Forty women on oral contraceptions for more than one year had been invistegated for factor VIII level using one stage factor assay. This study done in Geodon lab.in period between Sept. 2008 till April 2013. Results: Thirteen women on oral contraception for more than one year show elevated level of factor VIII more than 150% activity compared to only two cases elevation in the control group, furthermore higher level of factor VIII correlate clearly with duration of drug intake. Conclusion: Oral contraceptive pill has unexplained role on elevation of factor VIII level which correlate with duration of drug intake , careful and routine follow up for thromboembolic markers is recommended.

Keywords: Oral contraceptives (OCS), venous thromboembolism (VTE), factor VIII level