This study was conducted to determine the effect of depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) as a contraceptive on levels of serum immunoglobulins, total protein and albumin in Indian users. The recommended dose of 150 mg of DMPA by deep intramuscular injection was given to twenty parous women. Levels of serum immunoglobulins, total protein and albumin were measured prior to, and at one and three months after the injection. The levels of total protein and albumin remained unaffected. No significant changes were observed in the levels of IgA and IgM. IgG levels were increased in the first and third month after DMPA injection, and the increase in the first month was statistically significant (p = 0.019). While the serum levels of IgA, IgM, total protein and albumin were unaffected, the raised levels of IgG were indicative of improved humoral immunity in Indian DMPA users.
PIP: In New Delhi, India, researchers selected 10 nonlactating women aged 20-30 years, who attended the family planning clinic of Smt. S.K. Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, were interested in using the injectable contraceptive containing depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) for a study of the effect of DMPA on immunological status. The researchers determined immunological status by measuring the levels of serum immunoglobulins, total protein, and albumin. Blood samples were collected before and at one and three months after DMPA injection. Throughout the study, the levels of total protein and albumin did not change markedly (7.12-7.39 gm% and 3.79-3.88 gm%, respectively). The levels of IgM increased somewhat in the first month (200.4-207.3 mg%). On the other hand, the levels of IgA decreased slightly in the first and third months (228.9 to 216.55 and 216.2 mg%, respectively). The only significant change was the increase in the level of IgG in the first month after injection (1794.7-2016.75 mg%; p = 0.019). The IgG level in the third month was also higher than the preinjection level, but not significantly so (1955.8 mg%; p = 0.065). The increased IgG level suggests an improved humoral immunity of DMPA users. Further research is needed with more subjects and of longer duration to definitively conclude that DMPA is associated with an improved immunological status.