Almost half of stroke patients may be aspirin resistant

[Guest guest]

Almost half of stroke patients may be aspirin resistant

Last Updated: 2004-06-25 14:26:31 -0400 (Reuters Health)

By M. Conroy.

VANCOUVER (Reuters Health) - The results of a small study suggest that

almost half of patients hospitalized after a stroke or transient

ischemic attack (TIA) that are caused by a blocked blood vessel do not

develop anti-clotting effects with aspirin therapy.

Dr. Mark Alberts, of Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago,

reported at the 5th World Stroke Congress that 47 percent of stroke or

TIA patients showed " aspirin resistance, " which was defined as a

clotting time of 171 seconds or less.

The study involved 59 patients (average age 64 years) who had been

taking aspirin for at least three days before they had a stroke or TIA.

The patients were tested at the time of hospital diagnosis, before

treatment with additional anticlotting therapy.

The researchers used a machine that measures the clotting time of a

blood sample that is pumped through a membrane, a test design that

mimics the behavior of circulating blood. The results, Alberts said, are

available in " about 5 minutes -- and the test costs only $15 to $20. "

Sixty-three percent of patients were taking 325 mg/day of aspirin, and

37 percent were using 81 mg. Aspirin resistance was more common in

patients taking low-dose aspirin. The results were normal in 73 percent

of patients on the low-dose aspirin versus 32 percent of patients taking

high-dose aspirin.

There also was a trend towards more resistance in patients taking

enteric-coated aspirin compared with those taking uncoated aspirin (73

percent versus 39 percent).

The results suggest that " dose-adjusted antiplatelet therapy is where

the field is heading, " Alberts concluded. " One size fits all therapy

doesn't work for aspirin. "

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[Guest guest]

,

This article is interesting. When I had my stroke I was taking 12 aspirin a day

until the day before my surgery. With that high dosage, I should have been a

bleeding risk certainly not at risk for throwing a clot. My doctors have decided

I must be 'aspirin resistant' so they say I stay on Coumadin the rest of my life

because that does thin my blood.

Pat

[ ] Almost half of stroke patients may be aspirin resistant

Almost half of stroke patients may be aspirin resistant

Last Updated: 2004-06-25 14:26:31 -0400 (Reuters Health)

By M. Conroy.

VANCOUVER (Reuters Health) - The results of a small study suggest that

almost half of patients hospitalized after a stroke or transient

ischemic attack (TIA) that are caused by a blocked blood vessel do not

develop anti-clotting effects with aspirin therapy.

Dr. Mark Alberts, of Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago,

reported at the 5th World Stroke Congress that 47 percent of stroke or

TIA patients showed " aspirin resistance, " which was defined as a

clotting time of 171 seconds or less.

The study involved 59 patients (average age 64 years) who had been

taking aspirin for at least three days before they had a stroke or TIA.

The patients were tested at the time of hospital diagnosis, before

treatment with additional anticlotting therapy.

The researchers used a machine that measures the clotting time of a

blood sample that is pumped through a membrane, a test design that

mimics the behavior of circulating blood. The results, Alberts said, are

available in " about 5 minutes -- and the test costs only $15 to $20. "

Sixty-three percent of patients were taking 325 mg/day of aspirin, and

37 percent were using 81 mg. Aspirin resistance was more common in

patients taking low-dose aspirin. The results were normal in 73 percent

of patients on the low-dose aspirin versus 32 percent of patients taking

high-dose aspirin.

There also was a trend towards more resistance in patients taking

enteric-coated aspirin compared with those taking uncoated aspirin (73

percent versus 39 percent).

The results suggest that " dose-adjusted antiplatelet therapy is where

the field is heading, " Alberts concluded. " One size fits all therapy

doesn't work for aspirin. "

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org