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Query: UMLS:C0008370 (cholestasis)
 9,378 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Oral contraceptives have been implicated as a causative factor of venous thrombosis and thromboembolism. Compounds containing over 50 mcg of estrogen have developed this complication most frequently. Steroid hormones have a marked influence on liver function. Large doses have caused cholestasis and hepatocellular damage. Disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism have been recorded. Lipid metabolism have also been shown to be disturbed with increased serum levels of triglycerides and low density lipoproteins. A rise in the cholesterol serum level seems to be correlated with the progestogen content of the compound. The ''minipill'' with a small dose of progestogen alone had been effective by alteration of the cervical mucus. The ''one-a-month pill'' is a combination of a long-acting estrogen, quinestrol, and a chorter acting progestogen, qunigestanol acetate. It has not been as acceptable or as effective as combined compounds. The ''morning-after'' pill consists of large doses of stilbestrol. The method has been effective but when de-ethylstilbestrol has been given to a patient already pregnant to prevent an early spontaneous abortion, adenocarcinoma of the cervix or vagina has been reported. Hypertension has been more common with increased duration of pill use. High dosage of progestogens and increasing age of patients have increased the incidence of hypertension. Cerebrovascular disease had also been more frequent among pill users. An increased incidence of gallbladder disease and of gallstones has been shown in pill users. Urinary tract and vaginal infections were reported more often in pill users. Increased sexual activity may have been a factor in this relationship. Resumption of ovualation after discontinuation of oral contraceptives usually follows within 4-6 weeks. In about 1% of patients amenorrhea and anovulation result for 6 months or more. This is often accopanied by galactorrhea. There is evidence that mestranol is demethylated to ethinyl estradiol in the liver. Progesterone seems to interfere with conversion. Therefore ethinyl estradiol is preferred as a compound of the pill. Also the different progestogens used are metabolized in the liver to norethisterone before they exert their biological effects. Several drugs, as ampicillin and barbiturates, have been shown to interfere with the efficacy of oral contraceptives. It is concluded that the overall results have shown oral contraceptives to be an excellent form of contraception with minimal and acceptable side effects and the least metabolic disturbance.
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PMID:Current status of oral contraceptive. 82 61

Oral contrceptives (OCs), usd by over 30% of reproductive aged women in Belgium, are by far the most widely used contraceptive in that country. The various types of OCs include monophasic, biphasic, and triphasic combinations of an estrogen and a progestin, sequentials containing estrogen only for 7-14 days followed by a progestin through the 21st day; macrodose or microdose progestin only formulations, 3-month injectable progestins, and the morning after pill. Side effects of OCs are mainly due to metabolic effects on coagulation factors, the renin-angiotensin system, glucose tolerance, or the lipid profile. Users of OCs face increased risks of cholelithiases, thrombophlebitis, thromboembolism, cerebrovascular accidents, myocardial infarcts (among smokers over 35 years of age), and hepatic adenomas. The most troubling secondary effect is the excess cardiovascular morbidity and mortality show by contraceptive users, not just those who are obese, hypertensive, or who have histories of vascular pathology, but also those over 40 years of age and smokers. Lenght of use of OCs does not increase vascular risks. Epidemiologic studies demonstrate that vascular risks are reduced in lower dose formulations. Absolute contraindications to OC use include serious cardiovascular problems, severe hepatic pathology, estrogen-dependent tumors, pregnancy and undiagnosed gynecologic problems, and significant hyperlipidemia. Relative contraindications include severe headaches, cholelithiase, previous cholestasis of pregnancy, severe renal disease, fibromyomas, benign breast disease, age over 40 years, smoking, surgery anticipated within 4 weeks, infectious mononucleosis, falciform anemia, and immediate postpartum and lactation. Epilepsy, diabetes, depression, and varicose veins are not strictly speaking contraindications but require additonal surveillance. Lower dose formulations should be prescribed if possible. OC users should be followed up every 6-12 months. Among other steroidal contraceptive methods, sequential OCs and high dose progestin-only formulations are used for short-term treatment of specific conditions. Progestin-only minipills are used when an OC is desired but estrogens are contraindicated. Injectable progestins should be reserved for patients who for cultural or medical reasons can use no other type of contraceptive. Morning-after pills should not be considered a regular form of contraception. If OCs are used in adolescents, a low dose pill is indicated. Low dose OCs may be indicated for diabetics because of the danger of infection with IUDs and the lesser efficacy of barrier methods. If OCs are used in epileptics, they should be regular dosed because of the danger of drug interactions. Only low-dose formulations and progestin-only minipills should be used by women over 40.
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PMID:[The choice of oral contraception in 1984: general indications and specific cases]. 672 93

Women with liver disease require careful contraceptive management. Of particular salience is the impact of sex steroids on liver function. If patients with chronic liver disease have completed their families, tubal ligation should be considered. Estrogen-containing oral contraceptives have been associated with cholestasis and development of hepatic adenoma and are contraindicated in women with acute liver disease. Progestin-containing hormonal methods appear to be safe, however. IUDs or barrier methods such as condoms and diaphragms can be selected, but they have lower efficacy rates.
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PMID:Contraception in the patient with liver disease. 963 12

Progesterone has been prescribed for many years in women with preterm labor despite the lack of benefit for the fetus or neonate. The description of increased risk of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy led to discontinuation of this prescription. Recently, several double-blind randomized trials have focused on the usefulness of progesterone for the prevention of recurrent preterm birth. In this review, we re-examine the pathophysiological rationale for the use of progesterone and discuss the biases and limitations of older studies, detailing two recent randomized trials which suggest use of progesterone should be revisited. Data from these trials appear to provide convincing evidence that preventive use of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone administered by injections early in the course of pregnancy is effective only for women with a history of preterm delivery. This prescription could be part of a more global preventive strategy together with cervical cerclage and preventive treatment of bacterial vaginitis. During treatment, it is advisable to search for secondary hepatic effects. Conversely, there are still no data favoring the use of progesterone for preterm labor. Most preterm deliveries occurring in women without a history of preterm birth preventive use of progesterone should remain a rare indication.
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PMID:[Prevention of recurrent preterm birth: a comeback for progesterone?]. 1576 43

SHBG, the most important transport protein for sex steroids, is produced in the liver under the control of estrogen action. In a randomized, double-blind, prospective crossover study we compared basal levels of serum SHBG and their responses to increasing doses of oral and transdermal estradiol (E2), followed by E2 plus oral progestin (medroxyprogesterone acetate [MPA]), in 40 postmenopausal women with or without a history of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), which could affect the synthesis of SHBG. Serum samples collected at baseline, on the last day of each E2 period, and on the last day of the E2 plus MPA combination were assayed for SHBG and E2. Basal levels of SHBG showed no difference between the study groups. Oral but not transdermal E2 increased SHBG concentrations by 67-171% in the control group, but the response was smaller (42-121%) in the ICP group. Addition of MPA decreased SHBG levels by 14-18% in both groups during both treatments. In conclusion, a history of ICP is associated with blunted responses of SHBG to oral estrogen.
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PMID:Effects of oral and transdermal estradiol administration on levels of sex hormone-binding globulin in postmenopausal women with and without a history of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. 1578 2

During cholestatic liver diseases, cholangiocytes express neuroendocrine phenotypes and respond to a number of hormones and neuropeptides by paracrine and autocrine mechanisms. We examined whether the neuroendocrine hormone progesterone is produced by and targeted to cholangiocytes, thereby regulating biliary proliferation during cholestasis. Nuclear (PR-A and PR-B) and membrane (PRGMC1, PRGMC2, and mPRalpha) progesterone receptor expression was evaluated in liver sections and cholangiocytes from normal and bile duct ligation (BDL) rats, and NRC cells (normal rat cholangiocyte line). In vivo, normal rats were chronically treated with progesterone for 1 wk, or immediately after BDL, rats were treated with a neutralizing progesterone antibody for 1 wk. Cholangiocyte growth was measured by evaluating the number of bile ducts in liver sections. The expression of the progesterone synthesis pathway was evaluated in liver sections, cholangiocytes and NRC. Progesterone secretion was evaluated in supernatants from normal and BDL cholangiocytes and NRC. In vitro, NRC were stimulated with progesterone and cholangiocyte supernatants in the presence or absence of antiprogesterone antibody. Aminoglutethimide was used to block progesterone synthesis. Cholangiocytes and NRC express the PR-B nuclear receptor and PRGMC1, PRGMC2, and mPRalpha. In vivo, progesterone increased the number of bile ducts of normal rats, whereas antiprogesterone antibody inhibited cholangiocyte growth stimulated by BDL. Normal and BDL cholangiocytes expressed the biosynthetic pathway for and secrete progesterone. In vitro, 1) progesterone increased NRC proliferation; 2) cholangiocyte supernatants increased NRC proliferation, which was partially inhibited by preincubation with antiprogesterone; and 3) inhibition of progesterone steroidogenesis prevented NRC proliferation. In conclusion, progesterone may be an important autocrine/paracrine regulator of cholangiocyte proliferation.
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PMID:Progesterone stimulates the proliferation of female and male cholangiocytes via autocrine/paracrine mechanisms. 1851 43

Progesterone was widely used in France during the 1980s and 1990s to prevent preterm birth until some published cases of cholestasis suddenly stopped its prescription. Since then, multiple randomized controlled trials have emerged and demonstrated the efficiency of the treatment but also its safety at low doses. In order to clarify its indications, we performed a current literature review. We analyzed literature data according to different categories of risk and different routes of administration. Results confirm that progesterone is an efficient treatment to prevent preterm birth in singleton gestation with short cervical length, and in singleton gestation with prior preterm birth with or without short cervical length. Apart from these indications, progesterone, especially 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP), should not be used outside research protocols.
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PMID:[Progesterone and preterm delivery: back to the future?]. 2446 3