Gastrointestinal blood loss with low dose (325 mg) plain and enteric-coated aspirin administration.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess gastrointestinal blood loss with low dose (325 mg) plain and enteric-coated aspirin.


METHODS
A total of 47 healthy volunteers participated in randomized, controlled acute and chronic trials. Seventeen participated in a repeated measures acute trial, and 30 participated in an independent sample chronic trial. Gastrointestinal blood loss was determined by obtaining 72-hour stool collections and quantitating Chromium-51 labeled erythrocytes.


RESULTS
Acute phase trials: gastrointestinal blood loss during base line was 0.47 (+/- 0.11) mL/day, 0.96 (+/- 0.12) mL/day with enteric-coated aspirin (p < 0.0006), and 1.82 (+/- 0.35) mL/day with plain aspirin (p < 0.0001 vs. base line, p = 0.0476 vs. enteric-coated aspirin). Chronic phase trials: gastrointestinal blood loss was 1.12 (+/- 0.31) mL/day with enteric-coated aspirin (p = 0.0024 vs. control) and 2.60 (+/- 0.68) with plain aspirin (p < 0.0001 vs. control, p = 0.0364 vs. enteric-coated aspirin).


CONCLUSIONS
During acute and chronic ingestion, plain aspirin at a dose of 325 mg/day significantly increased gastrointestinal blood loss when compared to control or enteric-coated aspirin values, although enteric-coated aspirin values were also significantly increased compared to control. Gastric adaptation does not decrease blood loss with low dose aspirin consumption.
Savon
J J
JJ
Presbyterian Medical Center of Philadelphia, Division of Gastroenterology, Pennsylvania, USA.
Allen
M L
ML
DiMarino
A J
AJ
Hermann
G A
GA
Krum
R P
RP
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D013608:Tablets, Enteric-Coated
D013608:Tablets, Enteric-Coated; D001241:Aspirin