. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Jul 16.

Published in final edited form as: J Hum Hypertens. 2009 Jan 22;23(6):407–414. doi: 10.1038/jhh.2008.148

Table 4.

Summary Table

What is known about topic	•	Oral contraceptive use is associated with increased intrarenal RAS activity and risk of nephropathy
	•	Progestins in the oral contraceptive have been associated with increased blood pressure, albuminuria and loss of kidney function by an unclear mechanism
	•	The role of progestins in the oral contraceptive in activation of the RAA System is unknown

What this study adds	•	Progestational activity of the oral contraceptive predicts degree of intrarenal RAA System activity
	•	Androgenic activity of the oral contraceptive predicts degree of intrarenal RAA System activity
	•	Given the strong association between RAA System activity and kidney disease, women at risk of nephropathy may wish to consider oral contraceptives with low progestational and androgenic activity