Jc. Hauth et al., LOW-DOSE ASPIRIN - LACK OF ASSOCIATION WITH AN INCREASE IN ABRUPTIO PLACENTAE OR PERINATAL-MORTALITY, Obstetrics and gynecology, 85(6), 1995, pp. 1055-1058
Objective: To perform a meta-analysis determining the association of l
ow-dose aspirin treatment with subsequent abruptio placentae or perina
tal mortality. Data Sources: Studies were identified and selected usin
g the MEDLINE bibliographic data base of entries from January 1985 thr
ough April 1994. In addition, a manual search was performed using the
references from all retrieved reports, review articles, and chapters f
rom textbooks. Methods of Study Selection: Three criteria were used to
select Studies for inclusion: 1) Studies were designed as randomized
or double-blind clinical trials; 2) aspirin was administered in doses
of less than 200 mg/day; and 3) outcome data included the incidence of
abruptio placentae and perinatal mortality. Three studies did not rep
ort the occurrence of abruptio placentae, but the authors of those pap
ers answered written requests for such data. A total of 11 studies met
our inclusion criteria. Data Extraction and Synthesis: We independent
ly evaluated the study methods for each trial and abstracted quantitat
ive outcome data. For each outcome, relative risk, risk differences, a
nd 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The diagnosis of abruptio
placentae was taken as self-reported in each trial. No trial of low-d
ose aspirin in pregnancy had predefined criteria for the diagnosis of
abruptio placentae, and abruption was not a primary outcome in any of
the 11 trials. We combined data from all studies and compared the data
from the randomized trials to those from the double-blind studies. Co
nclusion: We found no increased risk for abruptio placentae or increas
ed perinatal mortality in women taking low-dose aspirin.