Effect of High Plasma-Estrogen Level on Blood Coagulation Parameters

Administration of gonadotrophin (human FSH and LH) raises plasma estrogen level, while progesteron level remains unchanged. We studied the effect of high plasma estrogen level on the blood coagulation parameters. Coagulation parameters were measured on seven anovulatory women of ages between 26-33 years, who were undergoing daily gonadotropin therapy to induce an ovulation. Plasma 17-beta estradiol (E2) level increased 5 fold of base-line level during the treatment (fron 114 ± 28 pg/ml to 553 ± 217 pg/ml). Fibrinogen levels increased from 248 ± 38 mg% of base-line to 353 + 78 mg% during the treatment (t=3.17, P < .025). There was a significant positive correlation between E2 and fibrinogen level (r =.762, a=239.99, b=.23). However, there were no significant changes in prothrombin time (P.T.), activated partial thromboplastin time (A.P.T.T.), Factor VIII procoagulant activity (VIII. C), Factor VIII-related antigen (VIIIR:Ag), platelet retention by glass bead columns, or antithrombin III level during gonadotropin therapy. This study indicates that the acute endogenous rise of ovarian estrogen increases fibrinogen level, similar to pregnancy; but it does not have significant effect on the factorVIII-associated activities (FVIII:C & FVIIIR:Ag).