Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis risk across various oral contraceptives: a disproportionality analysis of the FDA adverse event reporting system

Scritto il 15/05/2026
da Alexandra Balshi

J Neurol. 2026 May 15;273(6):314. doi: 10.1007/s00415-026-13846-6.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Estrogen-containing oral contraceptives (OCPs) increase the risk of thromboembolic events including cerebral venous sinus thromboses (CVSTs). However, robust pharmacovigilance data comparing CVST risk across OCPs remain limited.

STUDY DESIGN: The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) was used to investigate which OCPs are associated with a disproportionally high CVST reporting.

RESULTS: There were 479 reports of CVST across OCPs. Estrogen containing contraceptives were associated with disproportionally high CVST reporting, with ethinyl estradiol + drosperinone exhibiting the most substantial association (reporting odds ratio: 38.1, 345 cases).

CONCLUSION: Clinicians should educate those taking estrogen-containing OCPs on how to identify CVST symptoms.

PMID:42141300 | DOI:10.1007/s00415-026-13846-6