Cardioaspirin During Pregnancy: When And Why To Take It

Is it possible to take cardio aspirin during pregnancy, and what procedures must be followed? Is it true that there are contraindications to keep in mind? Here’s what you need to know about the topic.

What Is Cardio Aspirin Used For During Pregnancy?

Cardioaspirin is a drug that contains a low percentage of acetylsalicylic acid (equal to 100 mg) and has an antiplatelet function. It is prescribed with the aim of preventing the formation of thrombus inside the blood vessels, and during gestation, it is recommended for the prevention of preeclampsia in pregnant women.  In reality, the use of this active ingredient during pregnancy is quite debated because, although there are cases in which it is beneficial, it must be kept in mind that its administration is not risk-free. Generally speaking, the administration of cardio aspirin during pregnancy is recommended only to women who really need it and not as a form of prevention. 

Cardioaspirin performs a dual function: on the one hand, it inhibits the aggregation of platelets, and on the other, it has an anti-inflammatory effect. In addition to the treatment of preeclampsia, this drug is also recommended for the prevention of placental abruption in situations where there is growth retardation and to reduce the possibility of miscarriages. Preeclampsia, also called preeclampsia, is a pathology that affects 2% to 8% of pregnant women and represents a condition that should not be underestimated, given that it can cause alterations in fetal development, growth delays, hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, and functional problems, of the kidneys and liver. 

Cardioaspirin and pregnancy: when it is essential to take it

The relationship between anticardiolipin and pregnancy is much debated because, while on the one hand, this drug is essential for some categories of women, on others, it can cause side effects that should not be underestimated.  The medicine is usually recommended in subjects who present signs of risk or after the woman has carried out the combined test, which is a screening test which is carried out during the first trimester of gestation and which is used to understand what the chances are that the pregnant woman will develop a condition of preeclampsia or fetal restriction. 

The risk factors that can affect this condition, and which therefore may make the use of cardio aspirin necessary, are:

1. chronic hypertension ;
2. obesity or, in any case, a BMI greater than 30;
3. having already suffered from preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy;
4. diabetes ;
5. s antiphospholipid antibody syndrome ;
6. kidney disease ;
7. autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus;
8. twin pregnancy ;
9. age over 40 ;
10. pregnancy obtained through assisted reproduction ;
11. Multiple abortions. Multiple abortions (i.e., having had more than three abortions) can be caused by a condition called thrombophilia, and in this case, cardio aspirin represents a decidedly effective prevention method. The causes that can determine thrombophilia are numerous (ranging from lack of anticoagulant vitamins to genetic factors); however, in the presence of this pathology, the doctor may prescribe cardio aspirin at the beginning of pregnancy so as to reduce the risk of miscarriage.

The official guidelines on hypertension issued by  NICE (i.e., the English National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) recommend the use of cardio aspirin in all women who have a high risk of developing preeclampsia. However, it is not. It’s always easy to establish who belongs to this category. 

Although the risk factors for preeclampsia are pretty limited, it is essential to identify this condition as soon as possible and implement appropriate treatment. In fact, to be effective as a preventative, cardio aspirin must be taken before 12-16 weeks of pregnancy. For this reason, scientific research is developing increasingly precise screening tests capable of identifying the woman’s situation and suggesting whether or not to administer the drug. 

Currently, attempts are being made to establish whether or not a woman has the possibility of developing preeclampsia through tests on placental proteins and Doppler flowmetry of the uterine and umbilical arteries; both methods, however, do not give 100% sure results but offer an estimate of the presumed risk.

Cardioaspirin During Pregnancy: Dosage And Method Of Administration

Once we have seen what cardio aspirin is used for during pregnancy and why taking it, in some cases, is so essential, emphasis should be placed on how it is taken. For the preventive effect to be efficient, in fact, the drug must be administered before 12 weeks, and in any case, no later than 16 weeks; in this very first phase of embryonic life, in fact, the formation of the placenta takes place, and the medicine can carry out a contrasting action for the development of future problems.

Obviously, only the doctor will be able to indicate the dosage to be taken, which generally ranges from 50mg to 160 mg per day ), as if at low levels  (and only for the time indicated by the professional), this drug is safe, if exceeds the quantity, alterations of the amniotic fluid and congenital malformations could occur.  Cardiopirin during pregnancy should be taken until the doctor decides, but in any case, it will be suspended a few weeks before the expected date of birth.

Contraindications Of Cardio Aspirin During Pregnancy

Although cardio aspirin during pregnancy is essential in many situations, it still has some contraindications to keep in mind. Like all medicines, it can cause side effects, which include:

1. placental abruption ;
2. allergic reactions ;
3. bleeding ;
4. Hemorrhages in the fetus in conjunction with childbirth if the drug has not been suspended in time;
5. Alterations in the correct functioning of the gastrointestinal system; in fact, for this very reason, it is advisable to take cardio aspirin on a full stomach or to have a gastroprotective prescribed ;
6. headache ;
7. dizziness;
8. ear and labyrinth pathologies ;
9. respiratory, thoracic, and mediastinal pathologies, which range from asthmatic syndrome to nasal congestion and epistaxis);
10. cardiac pathologies
11. Conjunctivitis.

The risk of side effects is present. Therefore, it is recommended to take the medicine only in cases where it is really needed and only after a personalized risk assessment. Taking cardio aspirin during pregnancy should be stopped immediately if the woman undergoes surgery or  if allergic reactions occur, which may include:

1. hives ;
2. vaginal bleeding ;
3. frequent epistaxis ;
4. placenta previa.

Acetylsalicylic Acid During Pregnancy

Acetylsalicylic acid is the active ingredient common to both aspirin and cardio aspirin and belongs to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, i.e., the so-called NSAIDs. It actually prevents platelet aggregation by blocking the synthesis of thromboxane A2 in platelets. Acetylsalicylic acid inhibits cyclo-oxygenase one, and this leads to those who take it:

1. a reduction in  ongoing inflammation;
2. an antipyretic effect ;
3. a pain-relieving effect ;
4. an anti-aggregating effect on platelets.

Cardioasprin is prescribed to pregnant women by virtue of its antithrombotic function, and for this reason, it is recommended to take it in the form of tablets to be introduced orally capable of slowly releasing the active ingredient; this is only partially metabolized by intestinal enzymes and allows the body to exploit its antithrombotic capacity rather than its antipyretic or analgesic one.

Unlike low-dose cardio aspirin, which plays a fundamental role in the prevention of pregnancies, as regards aspirin during pregnancy, it is not recommended to take it in the first weeks of gestation, as it could increase the risk of miscarriage and gastroschisis (i.e., a malformation of the fetal stomach). Although there are still no studies in this sense, pregnant women are recommended to take an active ingredient considered safer, such as paracetamol, rather than NSAID drugs so as to avoid any possible risk.  Aspirin during pregnancy, however, should also be avoided in the third trimester: after 30-32 weeks of gestation, in fact, it can cause the closure of the Botallo duct, a blood vessel essential for the survival of the fetus.

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