Acta Medica Port
-
Pre-eclampsia is associated with deficient intravascular production of prostacyclin, a vasodilator, and excessive production of thromboxane, a vasoconstrictor and stimulant of platelet aggregation. These observations led to the hypotheses that antiplatelet agents, low-dose aspirin in particular, might prevent or delay development of pre-eclampsia. This Cochrane review aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of antiplatelet agents, such as aspirin and dipyridamole, when given to women at risk of developing preeclampsia. ⋯ Interventions were administration of an antiplatelet agent, and comparisons were either placebo or no antiplatelet. The present review provides high-quality evidence that administering low-dose aspirin (50 - 150 mg) to pregnant women led to small-to-moderate benefits, including reductions in the risk of pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, small-for-gestational age fetus, and fetal or neonatal death. Overall, administering antiplatelet agents to 1000 women led to 20 fewer pregnancies with serious adverse outcomes.