Journal of Hematology & Thromboembolic Diseases
Open Access

Abstract

Assessment of Some Coagulation Parameters among Clients on Hormonal Contraceptive in a Tertiary Health Facility in Sokoto, North Western, Nigeria

Erhabor O, Isaac IZ, Kaoje AU, John RT and Suleiman SA

Background: Hormonal contraceptives are widely used, and contain different doses of estrogen and types of progestogen. However, these hormonal contraceptives may potentially be associated with some side effects of coagulopathy. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the Prothrombin Time (PT) and Partial Thromboplastin Time with Kaolin (PTTK) among clients on hormonal contraceptives. Method: This descriptive case-control study was conducted among clients on hormonal contraceptives. A total of 43 clients on hormonal contraceptives constituted the subjects. Twenty non-hormonal contraceptives users were monitored as controls. PTTK and PT was carried out on citrated samples from subjects and control participants using the Diagen kit for PTTK and PT. Results: The mean values for PT and PTTK of the contraceptive users was 15.6 ± 1.5 s and 36.4 ± 2.7 s respectively, while the mean value for the control group was 16.0 ± 1.2 s and 38.6 ± 3.9 s respectively. The PT and PTTK mean values of the contraceptives users although marginally lower among subjects compared to the control group (0.4 and 2.2 seconds) respectively. The bivariate analysis did not demonstrate any significant difference between the coagulation parameters of contraceptive users and control group (t = 0.702, p = 0.491 for PT; t = 1.732, p = 0.100 for PTTK). There was significant differences in the in the PT and PTTK values of hormonal contraceptive users based on age. There was a negative correlation between PT and duration of contraceptive use. Conclusion: There was no clinically significant differences between the values of coagulation parameters of contraceptives users and non-users. However, it is not conclusive whether long term use of modern hormonal contraceptives increases the risk of thrombosis. There is need for more studies to investigate the effect of long-term hormonal contraceptive use on the PT and PTTK.