Does low-dose aspirin reduce preeclampsia and other maternal-fetal complications? (cover story)

ASPIRIN; PREECLAMPSIA; PREGNANT women; GESTATIONAL age; RANDOMIZED controlled trials; SYSTEMATIC reviews; META-analysis; EVIDENCE-based medicine

The article provides information on the efficacy of a low-dose aspirin to reduce preeclampsia and other maternal-fetal complications. Based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews (SRs), the use of low-dose aspirin during pregnancy decreases the risk of preeclampsia which is considered at increased risk for women. It notes that the rates of preterm delivery, perinatal death, and incidence of small-for-gestational age infants decreases for women treated with low-dose aspirin. Furthermore, a meta-analysis of RCTs found no increased rates of harm from low-dose aspirin therapy, including placental abruption or other antepartum bleeding complications.