ACETYLSALICYLIC-ACID AFTER MYOCARDIAL-INF ARCTION

There is no doubt about the positive influence of acetylsalicylic acid on vascular disease. The antithrombotic therapy with acetylsalicylic acid is a fundamental of secondary prevention of vascular events, espe cially in nonfatal myocardial infarction, instable angina pectoris, st roke and in patients with amaurosis fugax. Clinical studies done since 1990 about the effect of a low-dose therapy confirmed the experimenta l results, which showed that 25-50 mg acetylsalicylic acid per day are enough, to suppress platelet function as far as necessary, without in fluencing the protective function of prostacyclin synthesis. Side-effe cts can be reduced to a minimum with a reduced dosage. The wide-spread use of a low-dose acetylsalicylic acid therapy in primary prevention especially in patients at high risk has to be reevaluated in further s tudies.