Preeclampsia Could Be Prevented With Low-Dose Aspirin Regimen During Pregnancy

Recent findings suggest that pregnant women who take aspirin during their pregnancy may be able to prevent preeclampsia--a condition that can occur due to high blood pressuring during the 20th week of pregnancy, otherwise known as the second to third trimester of pregnancy.

"There is good news that pregnant women who are at high risk for preeclampsia can take a low dose of aspirin [81 milligrams per day] to prevent the condition," said Dr. Jessica Herzstein, who is the global medical director of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., via HealthDay. "[Daily low-dose aspirin] can reduce the risk of preterm birth by 14 percent and the risk of intrauterine growth restriction -- when a baby grows slower than expected in the mother's uterus -- by 20 percent. This results in better outcomes for both the mother and the baby."

Researchers reviewed available data on aspirin use and discovered that a daily, low-dose regimen helped to reduce a-risk women's daily chances of developing preeclampsia by up to 24 percent. Furthermore, the recommendation will only apply to women who are at risk of the condition and not showing any signs of the health issue by taking low-dose aspirin that's equivalent to about 81 milligrams per day.

Health conditions that may increase risk include chronically high blood pressure, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, kidney disease or certain autoimmune diseases.

"We don't know exactly how this works, but there is consistent evidence among studies that aspirin does provide significant benefits and very small harm," Dr. Herzstein concluded. "We need more research to look at how at how aspirin does this."

More information rearding the findings can be seen via the Annals of Internal Medicine.