[Aspirin: Indications and use during pregnancy]

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Pharmacology
• Vascular Medicine

Background:

• Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), known for pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects since antiquity.
• Antiplatelet properties expanded aspirin's use to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
• Since the 1980s, aspirin has been prescribed to prevent pregnancy complications like pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of aspirin in preventing vascular placental diseases and recurrent miscarriages.
• To assess the safety and benefits of aspirin use during pregnancy, particularly in high-risk and low-risk populations.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical studies and established medical literature on aspirin's use in pregnancy.
• Analysis of data concerning aspirin's efficacy in preventing pre-eclampsia, intra-uterine growth retardation, and fetal death.
• Examination of evidence for aspirin's role in managing unexplained recurrent miscarriages.

Main Results:

• Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is proven effective in preventing pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction in high-risk pregnancies.
• Daily doses of aspirin up to 100mg are considered safe during pregnancy.
• Evidence does not support aspirin's benefit for vascular placental disease prevention in low-risk patients or for unexplained recurrent miscarriages.

Conclusions:

• Low-dose aspirin is a beneficial intervention for high-risk pregnancies to prevent pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction.
• The routine use of aspirin for vascular placental disease prevention in low-risk women or for recurrent miscarriages is not supported by current evidence.
• Further research may be needed to clarify aspirin's role in specific obstetric conditions.