A small randomised trial of low-dose aspirin in women at high risk of pre-eclampsia

Abstract

Objective: To determine if aspirin (ASA) therapy reduces the incidence of pre-eclampsia in women at high risk of this condition.

Study design: Randomised clinical trial. We recruited pregnant women with gestational age at randomisation <14 weeks, who satisfied the following criteria: chronic hypertension, history of severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia or intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) or intrauterine foetal death. Nineteen women in the no-treatment group and 16 in the ASA group were successfully followed up.

Results: The mean birthweight was higher in the ASA group than in the no-treatment group (2790 g (S.D. 340 g) versus 2616 g (S.D. 779 g)), but the difference was not statistically significant. We found no statistically significant differences between the groups in the proportion of infants with birthweight below 2500 g (13.3% versus 29.4%) and the number of cases with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH)/pre-eclampsia (31.3% versus 36.8%).

Conclusion: These limited data give some support to the potential favourable effect of early treatment with ASA in pregnant women at risk of PIH and IUGR.