Aspirin for primary thrombosis prevention in the antiphospholipid syndrome: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in asymptomatic antiphospholipid antibody-positive individuals

Doruk Erkan, Melanie J. Harrison, Roger Levy, Margaret Peterson, Michelle Petri, Lisa Sammaritano, Aynur Unalp-Arida, Veronica Vilela, Yusuf Yazici, Michael D. Lockshin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

284 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective. To determine the efficacy of a daily dose of 81 mg aspirin in primary thrombosis prevention in asymptomatic, persistently antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)-positive individuals (those with positive aPL but no vascular and/or pregnancy events). Methods. The Antiphospholipid Antibody Acetylsalicylic Acid (APLASA) study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in which asymptomatic, persistently aPL-positive individuals were randomized to receive a daily dose of 81 mg of aspirin or placebo. In a separate observational and parallel study, asymptomatic, persistently aPL-positive individuals who were taking aspirin or declined randomization were followed up prospectively. Results. In the APLASA study, 98 individuals were randomized to receive aspirin or placebo (mean ± SD followup period 2.30 ± 0.95 years), of whom 48 received aspirin and 50 received placebo. In the observational study, 74 nonrandomized individuals were followed up prospectively (mean ± SD followup period 2.46 ± 0.76 years); 61 received aspirin and 13 did not. In the APLASA study, the acute thrombosis incidence rates were 2.75 per 100 patient-years for aspirin-treated subjects and 0 per 100 patient-years for the placebo-treated subjects (hazard ratio 1.04, 95% confidence interval 0.69-1.56) (P = 0.83). Similarly, in the observational study, the acute thrombosis incidence rates were 2.70 per 100 patient-years for aspirin-treated subjects and 0 per 100 patient-years for those not treated with aspirin. All but 1 patient with thrombosis in either study had concomitant thrombosis risk factors and/or systemic autoimmune disease at the time of thrombosis. Conclusion. Our results suggest that asymptomatic, persistently aPL-positive individuals do not benefit from low-dose aspirin for primary thrombosis prophylaxis, have a low overall annual incidence rate of acute thrombosis, and develop vascular events when additional thrombosis risk factors are present.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2382-2391
Number of pages10
JournalArthritis and rheumatism
Volume56
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Rheumatology
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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