ASPIRIN DURING SECONDARY PREVENTION OF PE RIPHERAL OCCLUSIVE ARTERIAL-DISEASE - WHAT DO WE REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE ADEQUATE DOSAGE

Since the 70s we know that a high-dose therapy with aspirin (ASS) can significantly reduce the progression and occlusion rate in peripheral occlusive arterial disease. Res -cently, many studies have shown that the incidence of side effects is strongly dose-dependent. Even with do ses <100 mg ASS/die, an antithrombotic effect could be demonstrated ph armacologically and sometimes also clinically (e.g. coronary heart dis ease). Unfortunately the definitions of high, medium,low and very low dosage of ASS are not equal in the international literature. In contra st to coronary heart disease, only one study is published which might demonstrate a clinical effect of low-dose ASS in peripheral occlusive arterial disease (US Physician's Health Study) and after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (LARA Study). Additional prospective, double- blind, randomized, angiographically controlled, long-term studies are necessary to demonstrate undoubtedly the clinical effectiveness of low or very low dosage of ASS.