Aspirin Improves Blood Flow to Heart
 (NY, Reuters Health, 4/1/04)

Dr. Ignatios Ikonomidis of the University of Athens, and team, used a heart monitor worn for 48 hours to identify transient episodes of restricted blood flow to the heart (ischemia) in 40 people with chronic stable coronary artery disease (CAD). The researchers gave the subjects either 300 mg. of aspirin or a placebo daily for 3 weeks; then they switched treatments. The scientists found that aspirin reduced ischemia by inhibiting factors that promote blood-clots, including macrophage colony stimulating factor (MCSF). The number of ischemic episodes fell from an average of 339 during placebo treatment to 251 during aspirin treatment. These findings suggest that a daily aspirin may reduce the frequency of episodes of coronary ischemia experienced by people with cardiovascular disease and improve long-term prognosis.