Aspirin withdrawal and acute lower limb ischemia.

Abstract

Aspirin is used mainly to prevent arterial events in patients with arteriopathy. Myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular events have been described after recent aspirin withdrawal. Experimental data suggest rebound platelet activity after aspirin discontinuation. Among a retrospective cohort of 181 patients admitted for acute lower limb ischemia for 4 yr, we studied 11 patients who had recently stopped taking aspirin. Aspirin was administered for vascular event prevention. The median duration of aspirin treatment without vascular events was 12 mo (range, 6-60 mo). The median time between aspirin withdrawal and lower limb ischemia was 23 days (range, 7-60 days). Four of the 11 patients stopped aspirin before a surgical procedure, without any substitution. In five patients, a recent diagnosis of neoplasia was observed. This study should alert clinicians to the risk of discontinuing chronic aspirin therapy in patients with severe peripheral vascular disease.

• Authors: Pierre Albaladejo, Thomas Geeraerts, Fady Francis, Yves Castier, Guy Lesèche, Jean Marty
• Journal: Anesthesia and analgesia (Anesth Analg) Vol. 99 Issue 2 Pg. 440-3, table of contents (Aug 2004) ISSN: 0003-2999 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15271721 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
• Aspirin

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Arterial Occlusive Diseases (complications, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Aspirin (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Chronic Disease
• Female
• Humans
• Ischemia (physiopathology)
• Leg (blood supply)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Regional Blood Flow (physiology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Substance Withdrawal Syndrome (physiopathology)