title: Aspirin: a neuroprotective agent at high doses?
abstract: Aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid, is routinely used in clinics as an analgesic, antipyretic and in the secondary prevention of stroke. These effects are caused by low doses of the drug (0.3-3.6 g/day) through the inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase, the enzyme responsible for prostaglandin synthesis. Higher doses of aspirin (4-6 g/day) are used in the treatment of inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and recent laboratory findings suggest that it could play a role in neuroprotection against glutamate excitotoxicity. This article reviews the possible mechanisms of action of high-dose aspirin in neuroprotection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gomes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005971:Glutamates / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D005971:Glutamates; D016328:NF-kappa B; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D001241:Aspirin; D002118:Calcium