Influence of oral contraceptive treatment on blood pressure and 24-hour urinary catecholamine excretion in smoking as compared with non-smoking women.

Microgynon-30 was administered to 15 smoking (group B) and 14 non-smoking young women (group A) for a period of 4 months. Prior to the institution of treatment supine blood pressure and daily urinary catecholamine excretion (DUCE) were measured in both groups of patients. Both values were elevated in group B in comparison with group A. Treatment with Microgynon-30 for 4 months induced a significant increase in DUCE in both groups, the increase being most marked in group B (p less than 0.0004). The increased catecholamine excretion accompanied small non-significant elevations in blood pressure. It is concluded that treatment with low-dosage estrogen oral contraceptives produces a significant increase in daily catecholamine excretion, especially in patients who smoke.