How important is it to keep taking the aspirin?

Editorial on: Cea Sorriano et al. Thromb Haemost 2013; 110: 1298-1304.

• References

• 1 Lotrionte M, Biondi-Zoccai GG. The hazards of discontinuing acetylsalicylic acid therapy in those at risk of coronary artery disease. Curr Opin Cardiol 2008; 23: 487-493.
• 2 Cea Soriano L, Bueno H, Lanas A. et al. Cardiovascular and upper gastrointestinal bleeding consequences of low-dose acetylsalicylic acid discontinuation. Thromb Haemost 2013; 110: 1298-1304.
• 3 Martín-Merino E, Johansson S, Bueno H. et al. Discontinuation of low-dose acetylsalicylic acid therapy in UK primary care: incidence and predictors in patients with cardiovascular disease. Prag Obs Res 2012; 3: 1-9.
• 4 Herlitz J, Toth PP, Naesdal J. Low-dose aspirin therapy for cardiovascular prevention: quantification and consequences of poor compliance or discontinuation. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs 2010; 102: 125-141.
• 5 García Rodriguez LA, Cea-Soriano L, Martin-Merino E. et al. Discontinuation of low dose aspirin and risk of myocardial infarction: case–control study in UK primary care. Br Med J 2011; 343: d409.
• 6 García Rodríguez LA, Cea Soriano L, Hill C. et al. Increased risk of stroke after discontinuation of acetylsalicylic acid: a UK primary care study. Neurology 2011; 76: 740-746.
• 7 Biondi-Zoccai GG, Lotrionte M, Agostoni P. et al. A systematic review and metaanalysis on the hazards of discontinuing or not adhering to aspirin among 50,279 patients at risk for coronary artery disease. Eur Heart J 2006; 27: 2667-2674.
• 8 Maulaz AB, Bezerra DC, Michel P. et al. Effect of discontinuing aspirin therapy on the risk of brain ischemic stroke. Arch Neurol 2005; 62: 1217-1220.
• 9 Sibon I, Orgogozo JM. Antiplatelet drug discontinuation is a risk factor for ischemic stroke. Neurology 2004; 62: 1187-1189.
• 10 Cea Soriano L, García Rodríguez LA. Risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a cohort of new users of low-dose ASA for secondary prevention of cardiovascular outcomes. Front Pharmacol 2010; 1: 126-135.
• 11 Antiplatelet Trialists’ Collaboration. Collaborative overview of randomised trials of antiplatelet therapy—I: Prevention of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke by prolonged antiplatelet therapy in various categories of patients. Br Med J 1994; 308: 81-106.
• 12 Antithrombotic Trialists’ Collaboration. Collaborative meta-analysis of randomised trials of antiplatelet therapy for prevention of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in high risk patients. Br Med J 2002; 324: 71-86.
• 13 Baigent C, Blackwell L, Collins R. et al. Aspirin in the primary and secondary prevention of vascular disease: collaborative meta-analysis of individual participant data from randomised trials. Lancet 2009; 373: 1849-1860.
• 14 Björklund L, Wallander MA, Johansson S. et al. Aspirin in cardiology – benefits and risks. Int J Clin Pract 2009; 63: 468-477.
• 15 Patrono C, García Rodríguez LA, Landolfi R. et al. Low-dose aspirin for the prevention of atherothrombosis. N Engl J Med 2005; 353: 2373-2383.
• 16 Meves SH, Overbeck U, Endres HG. et al. Dose-dependent effect of early antiplatelet therapy in acute ischaemic stroke. Thromb Haemost 2012; 107: 69-79.
• 17 Spectre G, Arnetz L, Östenson CG. et al. Twice daily dosing of aspirin improves platelet inhibition in whole blood in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and micro- or macrovascular complications. Thromb Haemost 2011; 106: 491-499.
• 18 Niccoli G, Giubilato S, Leo A. et al. Predictors of thromboxane levels in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes onchronic aspirin therapy. Thromb Haemost 2012; 108: 133-139.
• 19 Larsen SB, Neergaard-Petersen S, Grove EL. et al. Increased platelet aggregation and serum thromboxane levels in aspirin-treated patients with prior myocardial infarction. Thromb Haemost 2012; 108: 140-147.
• 20 Goto S, Tomiya A. High on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR): what does it mean, and does it matter?. Thromb Haemost 2013; 109: 177-178.
• 21 Harrison P, Frelinger 3rd AL, Furman MI. et al. Measuring antiplatelet drug effects in the laboratory. Throm Res 2007; 120: 323-336.
• 22 Fox SC, May JA, Shah A. et al. Measurement of platelet P-selectin for remote testing of platelet function during treatment with clopidogrel and/or aspirin. Platelets 2009; 20: 250-259.