Comparative effects of Lunelle™ Monthly Contraceptive Injection (medroxyprogesterone acetate and estradiol cypionate injectable suspension) and Ortho-Novum® 7/7/7 oral contraceptive (norethindrone/ethinyl estradiol triphasic) on lipid profiles

Abstract As part of a 60-week, open-label, nonrandomized, parallel, controlled study comparing a monthly contraceptive injection containing medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) 25 mg and estradiol cypionate (E 2 C) 5 mg (Lunelle™ Monthly Contraceptive Injection) and a norethindrone 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 mg/0.035 mg ethinyl estradiol (NET/EE) triphasic oral contraceptive (Ortho-Novum® 7/7/7), a longitudinal examination of lipid profiles was conducted. Lipid parameters were assessed at screening and at weeks 20, 40, and 60 (or the final visit) in 114 women using MPA/E 2 C and 93 using NET/EE (lipid analysis population). Extra blood samples were obtained at weeks 21, 22, and 23 in 61 MPA/E 2 C users and 51 NET/EE users (index-cycle analysis population) to investigate lipid changes during one cycle of use. In the index-cycle population, median changes from screening to week 60 showed a decrease in apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and apo A-II in both groups. MPA/E 2 C users had a decrease in total cholesterol (C), total triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), with maintenance of the total C/HDL-C ratio. NET/EE users showed an increase in total C and LDL-C, with no change in HDL-C or the total C/HDL-C ratio. Within the index cycle (weeks 20 to 23), median changes in lipid values in both MPA/E 2 C and NET/EE users were generally greatest during the first week after the injection or the start of the pill pack. The results of this first longitudinal examination of serum lipids in US women using MPA/E 2 C confirm earlier findings in women in other countries. However, a direct comparison of the effects of MPA/E 2 C and NET/EE on lipid profiles was not possible in this study because of its design and because of the baseline and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic differences between the two contraceptive groups. The results of this analysis showed that, although overall lipid values decreased, including a significant decrease in HDL cholesterol, the maintenance of the total-C/HDL-C ratio suggests that the effect of MPA/E 2 C on lipid parameters may not negatively affect CVD risk over 1 year of use. However, these results warrant further investigation, given the nature of this trial.