Aspirin

(Best Syndication News) Researchers in Europe say that regular users of aspirin may develop an “aspirin resistance” that could put some patients at risk of stoke and cardiac events. Doctor Armen Yuri Gasparyan, MD at the City Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom, and colleagues conducted an extensive study which appears in this month’s issue of the Journal American College of Cardiology.

The research suggests that most patients receiving long-term aspirin therapy still remain at substantial risk of thrombotic events due to insufficient inhibition of platelets, specifically via the thromboxane A2 pathway. A Canadian study in January found that heart patients who are resistant to aspirin are four times more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke or to die.

Although aspirin is well recognized as an effective antiplatelet drug for secondary prevention in patients at high risk of cardiovascular events, estimates suggest that between 5.5% and 60% of patients using this drug may exhibit a degree of "aspirin resistance. The researchers admit that the exact “prevalence” is not known.

An article in the February 2004 “US Pharmacist” publication, Mary Ann E. Zagaria, MS, RPh, CGP, PharmD, found that “widespread use of aspirin has reduced major events of arterial thrombosis by 25% in the secondary prevention.” Zagaria went on to say that this reduces the combined risk of stroke, MI, or vascular death in atherosclerotic patients.

“Patient variables associated with the most aspirin-related reductions in mortality were older age, known CAD, and impaired exercise capacity,” Zagaria added.

Gasparyan and his colleagues say that Smoking, obesity, diabetes, heart failure, inflammation, and other factors may boost aspirin resistance, the review shows. It has been known that some patients can develop aspirin resistance, but this research focused on the “importance of aspirin resistance” to cardiovascular patients.

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By Marsha Quinn
Best Syndication News Writer

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External Links:

http://content.onlinejacc.org/cgi/content/short/51/19/1829

http://www.uspharmacist.com/index.asp?show=article&page=8_1208.htm

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20080505/aspirin-resistance-may-be-common

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/18/AR2008011801250.html