Cardiac function in fetuses and newborns exposed to low-dose aspirin during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to evaluate cardiac function in fetuses exposed to low-dose aspirin.


METHODS
To assess its efficacy in preventing preeclampsia, 60 mg/day aspirin or a matching placebo was administered to women in a double-blind fashion during the second and third trimesters. As a part of this study, 146 echo Doppler studies were performed on 63 fetuses from 15 to 40 weeks' gestation. These studies allowed assessment of systolic and diastolic cardiac function. Cardiac function was also assessed in 87 neonates.


RESULTS
Throughout gestation ductus arteriosus flow velocity, right ventricular output and diastolic area, and left ventricular output and diastolic area all increased and were similar in both aspirin- and placebo-exposed fetuses. Fetal diastolic flow velocities were also alike in both groups. The two groups had similar gestational ages at delivery (39.2 +/- 2.3 vs 38.7 +/- 2.7 weeks) and birth weights (3174 +/- 575 vs 3105 +/- 579 gm, respectively). Furthermore, there was no difference in fractional shortening, cardiac output, prevalence of tricuspid regurgitation, or patency of the ductus arteriosus at birth between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The circulation of fetuses and newborns is not affected adversely by exposure to low-dose aspirin during gestation.
Di Sessa
T G
TG
Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), University of Tennessee, Memphis.
Moretti
M L
ML
Khoury
A
A
Pulliam
D A
DA
Arheart
K L
KL
Sibai
B M
BM
D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004452:Echocardiography; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014481:United States
D001241:Aspirin