Effect of two monophasic oral contraceptives containing gestodene or desogestrel on serum lipoprotein lipid levels.

Forty-nine healthy women aged 20-35 years who had not been pregnant or using an oral contraceptive (OC) for the previous 3 months were randomized into two groups, one group taking an OC containing 75 micrograms gestodene (GTD) and 30 micrograms ethinyl estradiol (EE), and the other group using an OC with 150 micrograms desogestrel (DSG) and 30 micrograms EE. Fasting blood samples were taken before treatment, and after cycles 3 and 6, between the 18th and the 22nd day of the cycle. Blood lipoprotein lipid levels were measured. Serum total cholesterol did not change significantly in both groups. However, in the first three cycles, serum triglyceride increased by 46% and 40% and HDL-cholesterol by 14% and 8% in the GTD and DSG groups, respectively. The serum LDL level decreased by 6.2% and 11.8%, respectively. Between the third and sixth cycle, no further significant changes were observed, nor did these changes differ significantly between the two groups. In conclusion, both OC preparations exerted small and probably favorable effects on serum lipoprotein lipid levels.

Effect of low-dose oral contraceptives on lipoproteins and lipolytic enzymes: differences between two commonly used preparations.

Changes in circulating lipoproteins, which may be related to the risk for atherosclerotic vascular disease, were studied in a control group and in two groups of 24 or 26 women using different preparations of low-dose oral contraceptives for 3 months. One preparation contained 150 micrograms levo-norgestrel and 30 micrograms ethinylestradiol (Stediril-d 150/30); the other contained 750 micrograms lynestrenol and 37.5 micrograms ethinylestradiol (Ministat). No significant changes were found with either of the preparations in serum cholesterol or high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Apolipoprotein A-II levels increased during Ministat treatment from 50.4 to 61.4 mg/dL and during Stediril-d 150/30 treatment from 52.7 to 58.9 mg/dL (both P less than 0.001). These changes differed significantly from each other (P less than 0.01). Apolipoprotein A-I levels increased significantly during use of Ministat only. Apolipoprotein B in low density lipoprotein increased by about 20% (P less than 0.001) in both groups. Post-heparin lipoprotein lipase activity did not change, but hepatic lipase activity decreased to the same extent in both groups (P less than 0.001). Reductions in post-heparin lipase activity were not correlated with increases in HLD-C.

Primary hyperlipoproteinemia in xanthomatosis.

Blood lipid values, clinical data and effects of therapy are reported on 74 patients with hyperlipidemia and xanthomatosis. A natural subdivision into two groups was observed on the basis of low density lipoprotein lipid values: one corresponding to Frederickson's type II, characterized by elevated low density lipoproteins, tendinous xanthomata, absence of eruptive xanthomata and a high incidence of cardiovascular diseases and the other resembling Frederickson's type III, with elevated very low density lipoproteins, eruptive xanthomata, xanthomata striata palmaria, elevated cholesterol/triglyceride ratios in the very low density lipoproteins and irregular appearance of floating beta lipoproteins. The latter group consisted of 32 patients in whom cardiovascular symptoms were relatively rare, despite mean cholesterol levels of 500 mg/dl.