The fibrinolytic system in 18 healthy women treated with an oral contraceptive hormone (Eugynon®: 50 µg ethinyl estrenol, 500 µg norgestrel) was studied repeatedly over 3 months. An increased level of immunoreactive plasminogen, as well as Fibrinogen degradation products an increased plasmin and activator activity, could be demonstrated. Venous occlusion experiments were suggestive for an enhancement of local activator release during the treatment. The level of fibrinogen degradation products, however, remained unchanged. It is concluded that thrombophilia under contraceptive hormone treatment cannot be explained by disturbances of the fibrinolytic system.

No abstract