GASTROINTESTINAL BLOOD-LOSS WITH LOW-DOSE (325 MG) PLAIN AND ENTERIC-COATED ASPIRIN ADMINISTRATION

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess gastrointestinal b lood loss with low dose (325 mg) plain and enteric-coated aspirin, Met hods: A total of 47 healthy volunteers participated in randomized, con trolled acute and chronic trials, Seventeen participated in a repeated measures acute trial, and 30 participated in an independent sample ch ronic trial. Gastrointestinal blood loss was determined by obtaining 7 2-hour stool collections and quantitating Chromium-51 labeled erythroc ytes. Results: Acute phase trials: gastrointestinal blood loss during base line was 0.47 (+/-0.11) mL/day, 0.96 (+/-0.12) mL/day with enteri c-coated aspirin (p < 0.0006), and 1.82 (+/-0.35) mL/day with plain as pirin (p < 0.0001 vs. base line, p = 0.0476 vs. enteric-coated aspirin ). Chronic phase trials: gastrointestinal blood loss was 1.12 (+/-0.31 ) mL/day with enteric-coated aspirin (p = 0.0024 vs. control) and 2.60 (+/-0.68) with plain aspirin (p < 0.0001 vs. control, p = 0.0364 vs. enteric-coated aspirin). Conclusions: During acute and chronic ingesti on, plain aspirin at a dose of 325 mg/day significantly increased gast rointestinal blood loss when compared to control or enteric-coated asp irin values, although enteric-coated aspirin values were also signific antly increased compared to control. Gastric adaptation does not decre ase blood loss with low dose aspirin consumption.