‘Aspirin during pregnancy cuts risk of pre-eclampsia’
MUMS-TO-BE may slash the risk of dangerous pre-eclampsia with aspirin.
The condition can lead to soaring blood pressure and is potentially fatal.
A trial of 1,776 women at high risk of pre-term pre-eclampsia found taking 150mg of aspirin before bed led to a 62% cut in development of the disease, resulting in a delivery before 37 weeks. There was an 82% reduction in the rate of early pre-eclampsia, resulting in delivery before 34 weeks. It has led to calls for low-dose aspirin to be routinely prescribed to those at risk. Prof Kypros Nicolaides, of King’s College London, said: “This study is proof women can take simple measures in their first trimester to reduce the chance of pre-term pre-eclampsia.” The Pre-Eclampsia Foundation has estimated the condition causes 76,000 maternal deaths a year worldwide.