Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic Of Iran
مجله پزشکی جمهوری اسلامی ایران
Med J Islam Repub Iran
Medical Sciences
http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir
2
journal2
1016-1430
2251-6840
8
10.18869/mjiri
14
8888
13
en
jalali
1396
11
1
gregorian
2018
2
1
32
1
online
1
fulltext
en
Effect of oral contraceptive pills on rheumatoid arthritis disease activity in women: A randomized clinical trial
Gynecology & Obstetrics
Gynecology & Obstetrics
Original Research
Original Research
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><strong>Background: </strong>Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common autoimmune diseases. Because immunological changes can be induced by steroid hormones, it seems that oral contraceptive pills can affect the severity of the disease. In this study, we examined the effect of oral contraceptive pills on rheumatoid arthritis activity in women.<br>
<strong> Methods:</strong> This blinded randomized clinical control trial was performed in the selected rheumatology centers in Tehran, Iran, in 2011. A total of 100 women with rheumatoid arthritis were included (50 in the intervention and 50 in the control groups), and those in the intervention group took oral contraceptive pills intermittently for 8 weeks. Disease activity was measured at 1 and 9 weeks based on DAS-28, which includes the number of tender joints, number of swollen joints, ESR, and GH. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16, and significance level was set at p≤0.05. This study was registered in IRCT (number: 138904224364N1) and all interventions were done after receiving confirmation from the Ethical Committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Code: 250/ 6441).<br>
<strong> Results: </strong>After administering oral contraceptive pills to the intervention group, we found significant differences between the 2 groups in disease activity and severity scores (p=0.04). Intervention group showed lower swollen joints score (p=0.02), lower joint tenderness score (p=0.02), and lower general health score (p=0.001) than the control group. <br>
<strong> Conclusion:</strong> According to the results of this study, oral contraceptive pills can improve rheumatoid arthritis activity and severity. As these pills are used for contraception, women with rheumatoid arthritis can benefit from both effects of these pills.<br>
</p>
Oral contraceptive pill, Disease activity, Rheumatoid arthritis, Autoimmune diseases, Contraception
361
364
http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-3258-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1
Leila
Amini
le.amini@yahoo.com
200319475328460038967
200319475328460038967
No
Department of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mehri
Kalhor
mkalhor20@gmail.com
200319475328460038968
200319475328460038968
Yes
School of Nursing & Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Anoushe
Haghighi
haghighi533@yahoo.com
200319475328460038969
200319475328460038969
No
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Naiemeh
Seyedfatemi
n-seyedfatemi@tums.ac.ir
200319475328460038970
200319475328460038970
No
Nursing Care Research Center (NCRC), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Fatemah
Hosseini
hosseini.f@iums.ac..ir
200319475328460038971
200319475328460038971
No
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Scienc-es, Tehran, Iran.