Stopping Aspirin Abruptly Risky for Heart Patients
(NY, Reuters, 12/28/06)

Dr. Giuseppe G. L. Biondi-Zoccai of the University of Turin, Italy, and team, analyzed six studies that examined what happens to patients with coronary artery disease when they either discontinue, or do not comply with, aspirin therapy. The team found that subjects who suddenly stop the therapy tend to have heart attacks at such increased rates that, with few exceptions, patients should continue taking aspirin even when facing surgery.  The scientists claim that the prospect of a devastating blood clot usually outweighs the effects of excessive bleeding and, even if the bleeding risk is so extreme that aspirin must be stopped, it should resume well within a ten-day window because heart attacks tend to occur 10 days after withdrawing the aspirin.

 (European Heart Journal, November 2006)