Effects of oral contraception on liver function tests and serum proteins in women with past viral hepatitis

Abstract Forty-three women who had had viral hepatitis one or more years ago and 35 healthy women who were age and parity matched were given an oral contraceptive containing 0.05mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.5mg levonorgestrel for six consecutive months. Liver function tests (serum bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT and serum alkaline phosphatase) and serum proteins (total, albumin, globulins, ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin and alpha-1 antitrypsin) were measured before beginning treatment and after three and six months of use. Past hepatitis women experienced increased unconjugated bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT and alkaline phosphatase levels throughout the six months while the control women showed less pronounced changes during the first three months with tendency to reversion to normal during the subsequent three months; the group X time of test interactions were significantly different between the two groups. Serum haptoglobin decreased significantly in both groups but the past-hepatitis group showed a more persistent change with time. Changes also occurred in serum albumin, alpha-1 and beta globulins, ceruloplasmin but without group effect or group X time interactions.