Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: September | Volume: 7 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 192-206
Menstrual Cycle: Evaluation of Hematological Changes
Letícia Gonçalves Freitas1*; Cristina de Mello Gomide Loures2*; Marcos Vinícius Ferreira Silva2*; Edna Afonso Reis3**; Fernanda Freire Campos Nunes4*; Maria das Graças Carvalho5*; Luci Maria SantAna Dusse5*
1PhD Researcher; 2PhD Student; 3Adjunct Professor; 4Postdoctoral Researcher; 5Senior Professor;
*Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia-Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
**Departamento de Estatística, Instituto de Ciências Exatas-Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
Corresponding Author: Letícia Gonçalves Freitas
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Literature suggests that menstrual cycle is associated with inflammatory process and with complete blood count (CBC) and hemostatic changes.The aim of this study was to investigate whether CBC, surface platelet markers, platelets-leukocytes aggregates (PLA) and plasma levels of D-Di, PAI-1 and FVIII are able to clarify the hematological changes during menstruation and in the middle day of the menstrual cycle, as well as the influences of the use of combined oral contraceptives (OC) and the age of the woman on this process.
Methods: 46 women were evaluated, including young non-combined OC users (Young = 16), young combined OC-users (Young-OC = 20) and >42 years-old non-combined OC users (Woman = 10). CBC was carried out semi-automatically, surface platelet markers and PLA were analyzed by flow cytometry and coagulation and fibrinolysis markers by ELISA.
Results: Neutrophil count, platelet activation and plasma levels of D-Di have variation depending on the menstrual cycle. Neutrophil count, platelet activation, PLA, plasma levels of D-Di, and PAI-1 are influenced by the use of combined OC. Platelet count and PAI-1 serum levels are influenced by age of the woman. There are positive correlations among platelet count, platelet surface markers, PLA, coagulation cascade and fibrinolysis whose intensity depends on menstrual cycle phase, combined OC use and woman's age.
Conclusions: Menstrual cycle was associated to modifications in hematological components due to hormonal participation. OC use and age seem to be associated to hypercoagulable status.
Key words: Menstrual cycle; Blood coagulation; Hemostasis, Platelet glycoproteins; Platelet activation