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Review article

Low Doses of Acetylsalicylic Acid: An Overview of Indications

Luka Bielen
Aleksandar Knežević


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Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death in developed countries and Croatia. Several lines of evidence from basic, observational and randomized controlled studies confirm the benefit of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in decreasing the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events. As such, ASA was the most prescribed drug in Croatia in 2014. The mechanism of its action differs from that of other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, since it irreversibly inhibits enzyme cyclooxygenase and therefore achieves antiaggregation effect during the whole life span of platelets. This effect is already present with the administration of the so-called low ASA doses of 75 – 150 mg. The advantage of low ASA doses in comparison with higher doses is the lower incidence of side effects (principally bleeding events and side effects related to gastrointestinal system), along with the preservation of the same antiaggregation effect. Indications for the administration of low ASA doses include acute coronary syndrome with and without ST segment elevation, primary and secondary prevention of CVD and the use of ASA as part of dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention. As the use of ASA in primary prevention is strictly individual, a careful prior evaluation of the risk-benefit ratio is needed.

Keywords

acetylsalicylic acid; primary prevention; secondary prevention; cardiovascular diseases

Hrčak ID:

148023

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/148023

Publication date:

4.11.2015.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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