An aspirin a day to prevent prematurity.

Intrauterine fetal growth retardation and preeclampsia remain a substantial cause of preterm birth world wide. There is evidence to suggest that a functional imbalance between vascular prostacyclin and platelet-derived thromboxane A2 production plays a central role in the pathogenesis of these disorders. Low-dose aspirin appears to reverse the above functional balance resulting in increased prostacyclin to thromboxane ratio. The efficacy and safety of low-dose aspirin in preventing preeclampsia and fetal growth retardation were tested in several randomized and uncontrolled trials. The data in the literature suggest that low-dose aspirin is effective in reducing preterm birth due to the above complications in selected high-risk pregnant women.