THE EFFECTS OF MINI-DOSE ASPIRIN ON HEPATIC FUNCTIONS

Aspirin is the prototype of NSAIDs, that’s widely used as an anti aggregant for prophylaxis of ischemic heart disease (IHD), usually is given as 75 mg/d, aspirin is a non selective COX inhibitor, as well as is the only irreversible inhibitor of COX enzymes. Aspirin is metabolized into acetic acid and salicylates, hence aspirin can cause salicylism, in which signs and symptoms may range from mild nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, tinnitus and dizziness to severe such as seizures or cerebral edema depending on the dose consumed. Although very-low-dose (mini-dose) aspirin is used increasingly as a platelet aggregation inhibitor, no studies have been published on whether aspirin's hepatic effects occur at dosages of <0.5 gm/day. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of commonly used mini-dosages of aspirin on hepatic functions in elderly patients for prophylaxis of IHD. About 54 elderly patients are investigated, they were given 75mg, 150 and 325 mg, for about 5 months, CBC and hepatic tests were taken before and after treatment. The serum of blood glucose is also evaluated. The main result is that hepatic functions in patients receiving 75, or 150 mg /d still around normal ranges, but significant hepatic alterations have occurred in patients treated by 325 mg/d., as well as the incidence of hypoglycemia.