title: Morbidity of transrectal ultrasonography-guided prostate biopsies in patients after the continued use of low-dose aspirin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether low-dose aspirin increases morbidity after transrectal ultrasonography-guided sextant prostate biopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a single-centre prospective cohort study of 200 patients who underwent sextant prostate biopsies, those routinely taking low-dose aspirin were encouraged to continue to do so before and after biopsy. The morbidity in each case was assessed using a standardized questionnaire that patients completed in the 7 days after biopsy. The presence of haematuria, rectal bleeding and haematospermia were recorded. The questionnaire also directed the patient to record fevers, use of analgesia and any further treatment received.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 36 patients took aspirin whilst the other 141 did not. There were no major complications in either group. Of the patients on aspirin, 20 (56%) had haematuria, compared with 83 (59%) of those not taking aspirin (difference 3%, 95% confidence interval, CI, -15 to 21). Overall bleeding (haematuria, rectal bleeding and haematospermia) occurred in 22 patients (61%) of the aspirin group and 105 (74%) of the other group (difference 13%, 95% CI -4 to 31). Comparisons of other morbidities between the groups are also discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of haematuria or overall bleeding after biopsy between the groups. There is no evidence that aspirin needs to be discontinued before sextant prostate biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, St. George's Hospital, London, UK. zafski@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Maan
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Cutting
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kerry
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pietrzak
authors.forename: M J A
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kirby
mesh_terms: D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D001769:Blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006417:Hematuria / Q000139:chemically induced; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D012307:Risk Factors; D012661:Semen; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin