MONDAY, April 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends low-dose aspirin after 12 weeks' gestation for women at high-risk of preeclampsia. This draft recommendation statement is based on an evidence review published online April 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Jillian T. Henderson, Ph.D., M.P.H., from Kaiser Permanente Northwest in Portland, Ore., and colleagues conducted a systematic review to examine the benefits and harms of low-dose aspirin for preventing preeclampsia-related morbidity and mortality. Data were included from two large multisite and 13 smaller randomized clinical trials involving high-risk women (eight good quality), as well as six randomized clinical trials and two observational studies of average-risk women (seven good quality).
The researchers found that aspirin use correlated with reductions in the absolute risk of preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and preterm birth (relative risks, 0.76, 0.80, and 0.86, respectively). There was no evidence of significant perinatal or maternal harms, although rare harms could not be ruled out. These findings form the basis of a draft recommendation statement, which is available for comment from April 8 to May 5, 2014.
"The good news is that pregnant women who are at high risk for developing preeclampsia can take a low dosage of aspirin daily to help to prevent the condition," Task Force member Jessica Herzstein, M.D., M.P.H., said in a statement.
Evidence Report
Recommendation Statement
Comment on Recommendation
