Platelet Adhesiveness in Symptomatic Women Taking Oral Contraceptives

Abstract

SummaryPlatelet adhesiveness to glass was determined in several groups of women. Increases were found in women developing thrombovascular symptoms while taking combined oral contraceptives, compared to both normal women and asymptomatic users of oral contraceptives. Despite this increase, overlap of the groups did not permit discrimination between symptomatic and asymptomatic women. However, it is possible, that in concert with other coagulation changes, platelet adhesiveness to glass may prove adjunctive in defining women at increased risk of developing thrombovascular symptoms while taking oral contraceptives, and further define the mechanism of the increased risk.