Download PDF
Horm Metab Res 1995; 27(8): 379-383
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-979983
Originals Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Hormonal Oral Contraceptives, Urinary Porphyrin Excretion and Porphyrias

U. Groß1 , M. Honcamp1 , E. Daume2 , M. Frank3 , B. Düsterberg4 , M. O. Doss1
  • 1Abteilung für Klinische Biochemie, Klinikum der Philipps-Universität, Marburg
  • 2Abteilung für gynäkologische Endokrinologie und Reproduktion, Klinikum der Philipps-Universität, Marburg
  • 3Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Klinikum der Philipps-Universität, Marburg
  • 4Klinische Forschung, Schering AG, Berlin, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

1994

1995

Publication Date:
23 April 2007 (online)

Also available at
  PDF Download  Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The influence of hormonal oral contraceptives on the urinary porphyrin excretion of 40 healthy females has been studied. Two different hormonal oral contraceptives (combinations of gestoden or desogestrel, respectively, and ethinylestradiol) were applied for half a year. In each case twenty women received one of these two combinations. Porphyrin precursors δ-aminolevulinic acid and porphobilinogen were normal in all subjects as well as the mean of uroporphyrin and coproporphyrin. One healthy female developed a mild secondary coproporphyrinuria. In this case coproporphyrin isomer I was slightly enhanced and isomer III slightly lowered. Furthermore it could be shown that three females with repeated premenstrual clinical expression of an acute hepatic porphyria (acute intermittent porphyria and hereditary corproporphyria) could be treated successfully with a hormonal oral contraceptive or other exogenous hormones to stabilize the latent, subclinical phase of the disease.

Key words

Hormonal Oral Contraceptives - Prophyrinuria - Coproporphyrin Isomers - Acute Hepatic Prophyrias

      >