A randomized controlled trial of low-dose aspirin in women at risk from pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether low-dose aspirin reduces the incidence of pre-eclampsia, reduces perinatal mortality and improves birth weights in pregnant women considered at high risk of developing pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
Two-hundred fifty subjects were recruited from the antenatal clinics at Harare Central Hospital with either a previous history of pregnancy-induced hypertension or pre-existing chronic hypertension and were randomized to receive either 75 mg of aspirin (ASA) or placebo (PLA).


RESULTS
Two-hundred thirty subjects (ASA, n = 113; PLA, n = 117) completed the trial. The odds of developing pre-eclampsia for those on aspirin was 0.72 times those on placebo (95% CI, 0.34-1.52). The mean birth weight was 2774 g for those on aspirin and 2694 g for those on placebo (P = 0.80). No difference was noted in the perinatal deaths (OR = 0.38; 95% CI, 0.10-1.20).


CONCLUSIONS
Prophylactic use of aspirin was not associated with a significant effect on the major pregnancy outcomes assessed in this study.
Byaruhanga
R N
RN
St. Francis Hospital Nsambya, Kampala, Uganda.
Chipato
T
T
Rusakaniko
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001724:Birth Weight; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012307:Risk Factors
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin