TAKING aspirin during pregnancy could help to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia, scientists said yesterday.
Researchers in the UK and Australia looked at studies involving more than 30,000 women to see if the common drug significantly cuts the danger of the potentially fatal condition, which kills about 1,000 babies a year in the UK.
They found that a daily low dose of aspirin or similar drugs cut the risk of developing pre-eclampsia, which is associated with high blood pressure, by 10 per cent.
The likelihood of giving birth before 34 weeks and of having other serious complications also fell by 10 per cent.
Doctors and campaigners welcomed the findings, but there were warnings about other side-effects from aspirin.
Pre-eclampsia is caused by a defect in the placenta, which joins mother and child and supplies the baby with nutrients and oxygen from the parent's blood.
The condition occurs in about one in ten pregnancies - and in one in 50 in its most severe form.
It is thought to be responsible for the deaths of 600 to 1,000 babies a year in the UK and up to five mothers.
The condition is curable only by delivering the baby, which puts some infants at risk of death caused by prematurity.
The research, published in the medical journal Lancet, examined the use of aspirin in pregnant women combining data from 31 clinical trials.
In these trials, involving 32,000 women, 8 per cent of expectant mothers developed pre-eclampsia.
But the researchers found that those taking aspirin had a 10 per cent lower chance of developing the condition, as well as lower risks of pre-term births and other serious complications.
As pre-eclampsia is thought to be linked to irregular blood flow, aspirin's anti-clotting effect could be leading to the benefits, the study said.
The researchers, including teams from Oxford University and York University, did not find any particular group of women who were more likely to benefit from taking aspirin during pregnancy.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said the latest study findings were "very valuable". Patrick O'Brien, a spokesman for the college, said: "It is a moderate reduction of around 10 per cent, but given that pre-eclampsia is potentially serious for some women and their babies, this is an important finding.
"No single sub-group of women seems to benefit particularly from low-dose aspirin.
"The decision on whether to take it in pregnancy should be made following discussion between the woman and her obstetrician, taking into account her individual risk of developing the condition," he said.
Despite the findings, the baby charity Tommy's said it believed that not all pregnant women should routinely be prescribed aspirin. Professor Andrew Shennan said: "It's important to bear in mind that if this were the case, for every 50 women prescribed aspirin, it would only have an impact on one.
"Only pregnant women at increased risk of developing pre-eclampsia should be given aspirin during pregnancy. Risk factors range from women who've had pre-eclampsia before, those women carrying multiple pregnancies and women over 35 years of age."
In another article also published online in the Lancet, doctors from the United States said that the potential risks of aspirin use must be considered.
Long-term use has been linked to an increased risk of stomach ulcers.
They said in lower-risk cases, it was more difficult to judge whether benefits outweighed long-term risks.
A CURE FOR EVERY ILL?
ASPIRIN has been used to help prevent heart attacks and stroke among those with cardiovascular disease for some time.
Various studies have found the drug can significantly reduce the risk of heart problems, although concerns about side-effects such as stomach ulcers remain.
This is a particular concern for healthy people taking a daily dose of aspirin believing it is good for their health.
This belief has been boosted by repeated reports of the drug's benefits.
Since it was first distributed to doctors in 1899, numerous studies have suggested the drug is effective against a whole host of illnesses. These include:
• ASTHMA: Earlier this year research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine suggested aspirin might reduce the chance of adults developing of asthma.
The study found that among a large group of healthy men, those taking a single aspirin every other day were 22 per cent less likely to develop asthma than those who did not.
• PROSTATE: Last year researchers from the Mayo Clinic in the United States said that the use of certain drugs, including aspirin, could help reduce or delay the risk of an enlarged prostate. Another study found that men who regularly took aspirin might increase their chance of surviving prostate cancer.
• SKIN: Australian researchers have suggested that the regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including aspirin, could offer protection against skin cancer and the growth of certain types of malignant cells.
• BREAST: Research conducted at Columbia University in 2004 found that the regular use of aspirin might reduce the risk of breast cancer, particularly among women with hormone-sensitive tumours. Daily use seemed to have the biggest benefits.
• HODGKIN'S DISEASE: Research from the Harvard School of Public Health found that low-dose aspirin use might lower the risk of Hodgkin's disease.
• BOWEL: In 2004, research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that aspirin in higher doses might protect against bowel cancer. The study, involving 27,000 women, discovered that, as use of aspirin increased, the risk of developing cancer fell.
• PANCREAS: A study by the University of Minnesota in 2002 found that women who regularly took aspirin might be less likely to get pancreatic cancer.
• VIRUSES: In 2002 a study found that aspirin might block the replication of a common virus linked to birth defects and immune system disorders
Researchers in the UK and Australia looked at studies involving more than 30,000 women to see if the common drug significantly cuts the danger of the potentially fatal condition, which kills about 1,000 babies a year in the UK.They found that a daily low dose of aspirin or similar drugs cut the risk of developing pre-eclampsia, which is associated with high blood pressure, by 10 per cent.
The likelihood of giving birth before 34 weeks and of having other serious complications also fell by 10 per cent.
Doctors and campaigners welcomed the findings, but there were warnings about other side-effects from aspirin.
Pre-eclampsia is caused by a defect in the placenta, which joins mother and child and supplies the baby with nutrients and oxygen from the parent's blood.
The condition occurs in about one in ten pregnancies - and in one in 50 in its most severe form.
It is thought to be responsible for the deaths of 600 to 1,000 babies a year in the UK and up to five mothers.
The condition is curable only by delivering the baby, which puts some infants at risk of death caused by prematurity.
The research, published in the medical journal Lancet, examined the use of aspirin in pregnant women combining data from 31 clinical trials.
In these trials, involving 32,000 women, 8 per cent of expectant mothers developed pre-eclampsia.
But the researchers found that those taking aspirin had a 10 per cent lower chance of developing the condition, as well as lower risks of pre-term births and other serious complications.
As pre-eclampsia is thought to be linked to irregular blood flow, aspirin's anti-clotting effect could be leading to the benefits, the study said.
The researchers, including teams from Oxford University and York University, did not find any particular group of women who were more likely to benefit from taking aspirin during pregnancy.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said the latest study findings were "very valuable". Patrick O'Brien, a spokesman for the college, said: "It is a moderate reduction of around 10 per cent, but given that pre-eclampsia is potentially serious for some women and their babies, this is an important finding.
"No single sub-group of women seems to benefit particularly from low-dose aspirin.
"The decision on whether to take it in pregnancy should be made following discussion between the woman and her obstetrician, taking into account her individual risk of developing the condition," he said.
Despite the findings, the baby charity Tommy's said it believed that not all pregnant women should routinely be prescribed aspirin. Professor Andrew Shennan said: "It's important to bear in mind that if this were the case, for every 50 women prescribed aspirin, it would only have an impact on one.
"Only pregnant women at increased risk of developing pre-eclampsia should be given aspirin during pregnancy. Risk factors range from women who've had pre-eclampsia before, those women carrying multiple pregnancies and women over 35 years of age."
In another article also published online in the Lancet, doctors from the United States said that the potential risks of aspirin use must be considered.
Long-term use has been linked to an increased risk of stomach ulcers.
They said in lower-risk cases, it was more difficult to judge whether benefits outweighed long-term risks.
A CURE FOR EVERY ILL?
ASPIRIN has been used to help prevent heart attacks and stroke among those with cardiovascular disease for some time.
Various studies have found the drug can significantly reduce the risk of heart problems, although concerns about side-effects such as stomach ulcers remain.
This is a particular concern for healthy people taking a daily dose of aspirin believing it is good for their health.
This belief has been boosted by repeated reports of the drug's benefits.
Since it was first distributed to doctors in 1899, numerous studies have suggested the drug is effective against a whole host of illnesses. These include:
• ASTHMA: Earlier this year research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine suggested aspirin might reduce the chance of adults developing of asthma.
The study found that among a large group of healthy men, those taking a single aspirin every other day were 22 per cent less likely to develop asthma than those who did not.
• PROSTATE: Last year researchers from the Mayo Clinic in the United States said that the use of certain drugs, including aspirin, could help reduce or delay the risk of an enlarged prostate. Another study found that men who regularly took aspirin might increase their chance of surviving prostate cancer.
• SKIN: Australian researchers have suggested that the regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including aspirin, could offer protection against skin cancer and the growth of certain types of malignant cells.
• BREAST: Research conducted at Columbia University in 2004 found that the regular use of aspirin might reduce the risk of breast cancer, particularly among women with hormone-sensitive tumours. Daily use seemed to have the biggest benefits.
• HODGKIN'S DISEASE: Research from the Harvard School of Public Health found that low-dose aspirin use might lower the risk of Hodgkin's disease.
• BOWEL: In 2004, research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that aspirin in higher doses might protect against bowel cancer. The study, involving 27,000 women, discovered that, as use of aspirin increased, the risk of developing cancer fell.
• PANCREAS: A study by the University of Minnesota in 2002 found that women who regularly took aspirin might be less likely to get pancreatic cancer.
• VIRUSES: In 2002 a study found that aspirin might block the replication of a common virus linked to birth defects and immune system disorders
