4 Low-dose aspirin prevents pre--eclampsia VIEWS & REVIEWS Aspirin 'could have a substantial impact on the health of mothers and infants worldwide', in terms of the prevention of pre-eclampsia, report Drs Frederick Zuspan and Philip Samuels from the Ohio State University, US. But who should receive aspirin, and how long should the agent be given for? Low-dose aspirin (60 mg/day) during pregnancy can reduce the incidence of pre-eclampsia in healthy nulliparous women without identifiable risk factors, according to the results of a study by Dr Baha Sibai and colleagues published in the NEJM [21 Oct}. The study involved 3135 women and showed that the incidence of pre-eclampsia was significantly lower in the aspirin, compared with the placebo, group (4.6 vs 6.3%). This difference was even greater in the subset of women with an initial systolic BP of 120-134mm Hg (5.6 vs 1l.9%). The benefits of low-dose aspirin may, however, be nullified by the increased incidence of abruptio placentae associated with the agent, in the opinion of Drs Zuspan and Samuels. It still remains to be determined which women would benefit most from low-dose aspirin during pregnancy. Drs Zuspan and Samuels suggest that perhaps women with a systolic BP 120mm Hg may be appropriate candidates. Zuspan FP. Samuels P. Preventing preeclampsia. New England Journal of Medicine 329: 1265-1266.21 Oct 1993 """0'16 30 Oct 1993INPHARMA® ISSN 0156-2703193/1030-004/$1.00° Adl. International Ltd

Low-dose aspirin prevents pre-eclampsia

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Low-dose aspirin prevents pre--eclampsia

VIEWS & REVIEWS

Aspirin 'could have a substantial impact on the health of mothers and infants worldwide', in terms of the prevention of pre-eclampsia, report Drs Frederick Zuspan and Philip Samuels from the Ohio State University, US. But who should receive aspirin, and how long should the agent be given for?

Low-dose aspirin (60 mg/day) during pregnancy can reduce the incidence of pre-eclampsia in healthy nulliparous women without identifiable risk factors, according to the results of a study by Dr Baha Sibai and colleagues published in the NEJM [21 Oct}. The study involved 3135 women and showed that the incidence of pre-eclampsia was significantly lower in the aspirin, compared with the placebo, group (4.6 vs 6.3%). This difference was even greater in the subset of women with an initial systolic BP of 120-134mm Hg (5.6 vs 1l.9%). The benefits of low-dose aspirin may, however, be nullified by the increased incidence of abruptio placentae associated with the agent, in the opinion of Drs Zuspan and Samuels.

It still remains to be determined which women would benefit most from low-dose aspirin during pregnancy. Drs Zuspan and Samuels suggest that perhaps women with a systolic BP ~ 120mm Hg may be appropriate candidates. Zuspan FP. Samuels P. Preventing preeclampsia. New England Journal of Medicine 329: 1265-1266.21 Oct 1993 """0'16

30 Oct 1993INPHARMA® ISSN 0156-2703193/1030-004/$1.00° Adl. International Ltd