Introduction
The benefit of low-dose aspirin in preventing preeclampsia is well established. Despite prescription of aspirin, 30-40% of women still develop preeclampsia. Aspirin-resistance or non-compliance, and their effects on clinical outcomes has not been examined in high-risk pregnant women and could, in-part, explain the observed lack of clinical response.
Objective/Hypothesis
We aimed to examine the incidence of aspirin non-compliance and resistance through biochemical analysis and compare this against self-reported compliance. We also examined clinical outcomes against biochemical compliance.
Methods
Sequential recruitment of women in a high-risk pregnancy clinic was undertaken in a metropolitan hospital. Demographic and clinical data of women together with a 3-point questionnaire and plasma collection was undertaken at 8 time-points (12,16,20,24,28,32,36,38 weeks gestation). Blood samples were assessed for PFA 100 (platelet function analyser) and plasma salicylate acid (SA) detection through liquid-chromatography, mass-spectrometry (LCMS). Non-compliance was defined as normal PFA100 and non-detectable plasma SA in <90% timepoints. Resistance was defined as a normal PFA100 but detectable plasma SA. Clinical outcomes were compared between compliant and non-compliant women prescribed aspirin <16 weeks of gestation. Statistical analysis utilised chi-squared analysis and linear regression utilising SPSSv24 and significance was set at p<0.05.
Results
Seventy-one women completed the protocol. Biochemical non-compliance was identified in 22(31%) women and only 45(63%) of women’s self-reported compliance corresponded biochemically (kappa coefficient=0.65)). No women were aspirin resistant. The clinical outcomes of compliance and non-compliance with aspirin were significantly different. Compliant women had a lower incidence of late-onset preeclampsia (4.1% vs 59% %,p<0.001), lower blood pressure (p=0.01) and were more than 34 weeks of gestation at delivery (96% vs 81%,p=0.02). Furthermore, the incidence of early-onset preeclampsia (2% vs 18%, p=0.001) and IUGR was lower (4.1% vs 23% p=0.003), favouring > 90% compliance.
Conclusion
Aspirin non-compliance is more likely than aspirin resistance and self-reporting is not a reliable measure. Women who are non-compliant have worse clinical outcomes.