• Y E Rotchell, J K Cruickshank, M P Gay, J Griffiths, A Stewart, B Farrell, S Ayers, A Hennis, A Grant, L Duley, and R Collins.
• Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados.
• Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1998 Mar 1; 105 (3): 286-92.

ObjectiveTo determine whether prophylactic, low dose controlled-release aspirin improves outcome for pregnant women and their babies in Barbados.DesignRandomised placebo-controlled trial.SettingThe Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados.PopulationAll women attending antenatal clinics between 12 and 32 weeks of gestation were eligible, if without specific contraindications to aspirin and unlikely to deliver immediately.MethodsRandomisation was computer-generated in the antenatal clinic; 1822 women were allocated to receive 75 mg controlled-release aspirin and 1825 matching placebo.Main Outcome MeasuresProteinuric pre-eclampsia, other pregnancy-induced hypertension, pregnancy duration, birthweight, stillbirths and neonatal deaths, major neonatal events.ResultsAll but three women from each group were followed up successfully. Forty-four percent were primigravid, and 8% had previous obstetric complications. There were no significant differences between the allocated treatment groups in the incidence of proteinuric pre-eclampsia (40 [2.2%] of those allocated aspirin, compared with 46 [2.5%] allocated placebo), of preterm delivery (255 [14.0%] vs 270 [14.8%]), of birthweight < 1500 g (32 [1.7%] vs 33 [1.8%]) or of stillbirth and neonatal death (44 [2.4%] vs 38 [2.1%]). Aspirin was not associated with excess risk of maternal or fetal bleeding.ConclusionsThe results of this study in Barbados do not support the routine use of low dose aspirin for prevention of pre-eclampsia or its complications, confirming results of previous large trials in other settings.

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