Arguments favoring low versus high dose aspirin in the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism

The use of aspirin in the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is still controversial. In a profound review on the use of aspirin for primary and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism and other cardiovascular disorders Cohen et al. [1] conclude that the benefits of aspirin are well documented for conditions like myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, and stroke, but less clearly for prevention of VTE after orthopedic surgery. The latter indistinctness has been a matter of concern in many earlier reviews and meta-analyses, and has even led to non-uniform guidelines on VTE prevention from the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN).

Source: Thrombosis Research - January 27, 2016 Category: Hematology Authors: Piet Borgdorff, Geert Jan Tangelder Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research