Background: Low-dose aspirin (LDA) helps prevent pre-eclampsia (PE), but the optimal dose is debated.1-4 We studied uterine artery Doppler and serum biomarkers (PlGF, sFlt-1) in high-risk women and compared maternal and perinatal outcomes between those on 75 mg and 150 mg LDA.
Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care centre in Southern India. Women at high risk of developing pre-eclampsia (GESTOSIS score ≥3) who started low-dose aspirin (LDA) before 16 weeks were divided into Group 1 (75 mg) and Group 2 (150 mg). Between 28–32 weeks of gestation, uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) and serum biomarkers were assessed. Participants were followed until the delivery
Results: A total of 179 women in Group 1 and 180 women in Group 2 were studied. Maternal characteristics and Gestosis scores were similar between groups. Uterine artery PI, sFlt-1, PlGF, and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio showed no significant differences. The incidence of pre-eclampsia (PE) was similar (Group 1: 4.4%, Group 2: 6.1%, p=0.48), but preterm PE was significantly higher in Group 2 (p=0.01, 95% CI; 6.3-12.3). Maternal outcomes were comparable, but preterm birth (PTB) before 34 weeks, fetal growth restriction (FGR), and 5' APGAR <7 were significantly more in Group 2.
Conclusion: Maternal uterine artery PI and serum biomarkers were similar in women while on 75 mg and 150 mg of LDA. Though the development of pre-eclampsia (PE) was comparable between both doses, neonates in the higher-dose (150 mg) group were at increased risk of FGR, prematurity, and lower 5-minute APGAR scores.