Aspirin for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Shamir R. Mehta
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2009)

Editorials17 March 2009Aspirin for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular DiseaseShamir R. Mehta, MD, MScShamir R. Mehta, MD, MScFrom McMaster University, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-150-6-200903170-00011 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Millions of persons worldwide take aspirin on a daily basis for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Aspirin inhibits platelets by irreversibly inactivating cyclooxygenase-1, thereby blocking the generation of thromboxane A2, a potent vasoconstrictor and platelet agonist. Despite decades of research, some fundamental questions about aspirin have yet to be definitively answered. In this issue, 2 studies (1, 2) shed light on 2 of these key questions: What is the optimal dose of aspirin to administer to patients for secondary prevention and treatment of established cardiovascular disease and in whom, and when should aspirin be used for prevention of ...References1. Steinhubl SR, Bhatt DL, Brennan DM, Montalescot G, Hankey GJ, Eikelboom JW, et al; CHARISMA Investigators. Aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease: the association of aspirin dose and clopidogrel with thrombosis and bleeding. Ann Intern Med. 2009;150:379-86. LinkGoogle Scholar2. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular disease: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med. 2009;150:396-404. LinkGoogle Scholar3. Antithrombotic Trialists' Collaboration. Collaborative meta-analysis of randomised trials of antiplatelet therapy for prevention of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in high risk patients. BMJ. 2002;324:71-86. 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[PMID: 16418466] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From McMaster University, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada.Disclosures: None disclosed.Corresponding Author: Shamir R. Mehta, MD, MSc, McMaster University, Hamilton General Hospital, 237 Barton Street East, Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada; e-mail: [email protected]ca. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoAspirin to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease: The Association of Aspirin Dose and Clopidogrel With Thrombosis and Bleeding Steven R. Steinhubl , Deepak L. Bhatt , Danielle M. Brennan , Gilles Montalescot , Graeme J. Hankey , John W. Eikelboom , Peter B. Berger , Eric J. Topol , and Aspirin for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation StatementAspirin for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events: An Update of the Evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Tracy Wolff , Therese Miller , and Stephen Ko Metrics Cited byNitro aspirin (NCX4040) induces apoptosis in PC3 metastatic prostate cancer cells via hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-mediated oxidative stressLipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) reverses the amyloid state of fibrin seen in plasma of type 2 diabetics with cardiovascular co-morbiditiesPoorly controlled type 2 diabetes is accompanied by significant morphological and ultrastructural changes in both erythrocytes and in thrombin-generated fibrin: implications for diagnosticsPlatelet Activation Through the Efficacy of Aspirin in Congenital Heart Disease Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Closure of Atrial Septal Defects or Ventricular Septal DefectsAcetylsalicylic acid treatment until surgery reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graftingShould More Patients Continue Aspirin Therapy Perioperatively?AspirinAntiplatelet Drugs – Do We Need New Options?Current World Literature 17 March 2009Volume 150, Issue 6Page: 414-416KeywordsAspirinCardiovascular diseasesCoronary heart diseaseHemorrhageMyocardial infarctionPlateletsRandomized trialsRelative riskStrokeVascular diseases ePublished: 17 March 2009 Issue Published: 17 March 2009 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2009 by American College of Physicians. 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