Low dose aspirin to prevent pre-eclampsia in high risk group patients

ABSTRACT

One hundred women at high risk of pre-eclampsia and/or fetal growth retardation were randomly allocated to treatment with low dose aspirin [50 mg] daily from 16th weeks gestation onwards [Aspirin group] or to no aspirin treatment [no treatment group]. Aspirin significantly [P < 0.05] reduced the incidence of pre-eclampsia especially its severe form [P < 0.01], prolonged the gestational age, increased the birth weight [P < 0.05], as well as significantly [P < 0.05] reduced the incidence of fetal growth retardation. It selectively suppressed the maternal platelet thromboxane level by more than 90% [P < 0.001] with sparing the vascular prostacyclin production. Although, low dose aspirin prolonged the maternal neonatal bleeding time, yet it did not produce serious adverse effects to the mother, fetus or newborn. It protects the high risk patients against pre-eclampsia and its associated complications