Aspirin resistance in cardiovascular disease: a review.
BACKGROUND
Aspirin is effective at reducing the cardiovascular event rate in defined patient groups. The introduction of antiplatelet therapies other than aspirin and the concept of aspirin resistance have led to critical reappraisal of current treatment. This review aims to clarify the evidence for aspirin resistance in patients with atherosclerosis.


METHODS
Medline search was performed to identify publications concerned with antiplatelet effects of aspirin and failure of aspirin therapy. Manual cross referencing was also performed.


CONCLUSIONS
Wide variations in the rate of aspirin resistance (5.5-75%) have been reported. The lack of consensus on an appropriate definition and the number of different tests used to investigate aspirin resistance needs to be addressed. There are few studies where the primary aim was to document aspirin resistance or aspirin non-response. Further work should aim to investigate if aspirin resistance is clinically important and, if it is, what treatments may be beneficial to the at risk patient.
Wong
S
S
Department of Vascular Surgery, The Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonard's, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia.
Appleberg
M
M
Ward
C M
CM
Lewis
D R
DR
D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin