Daily Dose of Aspirin could Reduce Risk of Preeclampsia

Aspirin, an oral medication commonly used to treat mild to moderate pain, may also help prevent preeclampsia in women with high-risk pregnancies, according to a recent study.

Researchers from the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Ore., and colleagues, discovered that taking low-dose aspirin after the third trimester of pregnancy can lead to a drop in the condition that affects approximately four percent of pregnant women in the United States. The health condition is characterized by elevated blood pressure and excess protein that's concentrated in the urine typically following the 20^th week of pregnancy, a health issue that's one of the leading causes of maternal death globally.

"Preeclampsia is one of the more common causes of serious health problems for both the expectant mother and their baby," said Dr. Michael LeFevre, chairman of the task force, and vice chair of family and community medicine at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, via Health Day. "At least for pregnant women at high risk for preeclampsia, a low dose of aspirin taken daily can help prevent the condition and improve the outcome for both mother and child."

To test the medication's effects, researchers reviewed 23 randomized, controlled trials and observational studies involving women with high preeclampsia risks. Findings showed that taking aspirin could be beneficial for some pregnant women, which can lead to a 24 percent drop in the occurrence of preeclampsia during the third trimester. Daily low-dose aspirin use also reduced the risk of preterm birth by 14 percent and slow fetal growth by 20 percent, according to Health Day.

Prevention of preeclampsia is essential to the overall health and safety of the mother and baby. The only treatment once preeclampsia takes hold is delivery, which can pose serious risks to the child's life if performed before 34 weeks of gestation. In fact, background information from the study notes that 15 percent of preterm births are responsible due to this health issue.

Women who contract preeclampsia can also suffer from organ damage or even stroke. Often times, preterm, low-weight babies may result as a consequence of the health issue due to lost oxygen and nutrients.

Though the study's findings boast the benefits of aspirin, the drug is not without its own risks. As many regularly take it in the hopes of preventing cancer and heart disease, previous studies have also shown that the drug can increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke.

If your'e considering adding aspirin to your regimen during pregnancy, make sure to speak with your doctor. 

"We certainly don't want women to go out and start taking low-dose aspirin without talking with their prenatal provider about whether they are at high enough risk to begin taking aspirin," he said. "This is not something women should do on their own. This is something they should do in consultation with their health care provider."

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.