Aspirin resistance carries real risks
By Nathan Seppa
From San Francisco, at the International Stroke Conference
The notion that some people are impervious to the blood-thinning effects of aspirin has been debated for more than 15 years. A meta-analysis of 17 studies now bolsters the evidence for “aspirin resistance” and indicates that the trait increases vulnerability to stroke and heart attack, heightens a person’s risk of dying, and diminishes the effects of another commonly used blood thinner.
In the studies reviewed, out of 2,367 people with a history of heart problems or stroke, 618 had a blood-clotting ability that routinely overpowered aspirin’s anticlotting effects.