Giovani donne in età fertile (trattate e non trattate con contraccettivi orali) differiscono in alcuni parametri ematoclinici e hanno anche una differente funzionalità macrofagica

Aim The protocol designs emphasize the need for contraception for women of childbearing potential who participate in early drug trials. Methods: 125 healthy adult women with regular menstrual cycles (28 days) aged 27 years (range 18-39) were enrolled and their haematological and clinical chemical parameters were performed. Results: Combined oral contraceptives users (FOCs) and non users (Fs) were well matched for body mass index (BMI) and age. FOCs had higher TIBC, total cholesterol, TG, CRP than Fs. Here we evidenced that combined oral contraceptives with (FOCA+) or without androgenic progestin (FOCA-) influenced many plasma parameters including calcium, white blood cell, fasting glycemia, and high density lipoprotein that resulted higher in FOCA- than in FOCA+. Conversely, protrombin time was lower in FOCA- than in FOCA+. Basal and LPS-induced release of TNF-α is characterized by a great variability. However, basal cytokine release was significantly higher in FOCs than in the Fs and was higher in FOCA- than in FOCA+ but this difference was not statistically significant. LPS induced TNF-α release was significant higher in Fs than FOCs. Estrogen receptor levels and activation status were also differently influenced by contraceptives in MDMs. These variations induced by contraceptives depending on their formulation could impact pharmacological responses. Conclusion: In this study we selected combined oral contraceptives (OC), which are the most commonly used birth control methods all over the world