Oral Contraceptives May Help Treat Asthma
Study Shows Oral Contraceptives May Benefit Some Premenstrual Women
By
Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News
Reviewed By
Brunilda Nazario, MD
Nov. 6, 2009 -- Treatment with oral contraceptives may benefit premenopausal
women with asthma, even if their asthma symptoms are not strongly linked to
their monthly menstrual cycles, early research suggests.
In a small but rigorously designed study, researchers from the University of
Alberta confirmed that fluctuating levels of the sex hormones estrogen and
progesterone have a direct impact on markers of airway inflammation.
Oral contraceptives are already used as a complementary asthma treatment in
women whose symptoms are closely tied to their menstrual cycles.
The new research suggests a much broader group of women may also benefit,
study researcher Piush J. Mandhane, MD, PhD, tells WebMD.
"Until now, we did not have the data to show that estrogen and progesterone
influence asthma," he says. "Now we have it and it opens up new areas of
inquiry for the management of asthma in women."
Hormones, Asthma Symptoms Measured Daily
The study included 17 premenopausal women with moderate to severe asthma who
met with the research team daily over the course of a complete menstrual cycle
(around 36 days).
Estrogen and progesterone levels were measured at each visit. Asthma
symptoms and markers of airway inflammation were also monitored daily, and
allergy skin-prick tests were conducted every other day.
"This study took a lot of dedication on the part of everyone involved,"
Mandhane says. "We endured snow storms, power outages, and university closures.
When people were going away for weekend trips I would be at their house at 5
a.m. or an assistant would be there."
This dedication meant that almost 99% of the planned daily assessments were
actually carried out.
Nine of the women in the study were using oral contraceptives and eight were
not. Four of the 17 had menstrual-cycle associated asthma symptoms.
"Since women taking oral contraceptives don't have significant changes in
estrogen and progestin through their menstrual cycles, we did not expect to see
changes in markers of asthma through the cycle," Mandhane says. "Women who are
not on oral contraceptives should have changes in estrogen and progesterone and
as a result they should have changes in these markers. That is what we
found."
He says women who experience big fluctuations in progesterone but few
changes in estrogen during their cycle are probably most vulnerable to
cycle-related asthma.
The study was published this week in the November issue of the journal
Chest.
Mandhane believes the findings justify larger studies examining oral
contraceptives as a treatment for asthma in premenopausal women.
SOURCES: Mandhane, P.J. Chest, November 2009; vol 136: pp 1301-1307.
Piush J. Mandhane, MD, PhD, assistant professor, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
News release, American College of Chest Physicians.
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