Oral contraceptive intake in women with focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver

This study examines the risk associated with oral contraceptive (OC) use in women with focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH). A total of 216 women (mean age, 36.2 years) with FNH were studied during 1989-98. The studied women were separated into five groups: no OC use (n = 28); high-dose OC use (50 mcg ethinyl estradiol, n = 46); low-dose OC use (30 mcg or less ethinyl estradiol, n = 98); low-dose and high-dose OC use (n = 33); pure progestagen use (n = 11). In each group, the mean diameter and the number of lesions per patient were assessed via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Findings revealed no differences between the five groups as to the number and the size of the lesions. The data showed that neither the intake nor the type of OC influenced the size and number of FNHs. A total of 128 women were followed up with serial MRI done after a mean of 23 months: 89 discontinued OCs, 14 remained without OCs, and 25 had taken or remained on low-dose OCs. In those who discontinued OCs, the FNH had decreased in size in two lesions and increased in size in one lesion. Despite continuation of OCs, the largest FNH disappeared 2 years after the first diagnosis, whereas the other FNH remained unchanged. Moreover, during this follow-up study, 12 women became pregnant; no increase in lesion size was seen during pregnancy. These findings indicate that low-dose OCs can be maintained in young women with FNH.