Effect of 50 mg enteric-coated aspirin (Astrix) on thromboxane and prostacyclin synthesis

Although low-dose soluble aspirin can be recommended as a useful anti-thrombotic drug regimen in patients with vascular disease, enteric-coated preparations have a theoretical advantage for aspirin preparations which are to be ingested daily for many years. We have demonstrated that a 50 mg enteric-coated aspirin formulation (Astrix) which has an absorption rate much lower than soluble aspirin, is sufficient to inhibit platelet thromboxane synthesis while causing no major decrease in vascular prostacyclin synthesis.