Prevention of Pre-Eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia seems to arise from disordered trop-hoblastic invasion of the spiral arteries in early pregancy. The result is underperfusion of the placenta with ischaemia and infarction. Platelet activation then occurs with an imbalance between the vasodilator and vasoconstrictor substances prostacyclin and thromboxane. Theoretically, low dose aspirin could inhibit platelet aggregation and dilate blood vessels reducing the adverse effects of pre-eclampsia by reducing the number of babies delivered before 34 weeks and those with intrauterine growth restriction.

The number of women needed to treat with aspirin is 50 to prevent one case of pre-eclampsia but this may still be worthwhile  as side effects are minimal.