The role of acetylsalicylic acid in arterial hypertension

Abstract

We summarized recently published literature regarding the significance of role of aspirin in arterial hypertension. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, aspirin) has been commercially available as an analgesic and antiinflammatory agent for more then a century. In recent years the demonstrated ability of aspirin to inhibit platelet aggregation and prevent thrombotic cardiovascular events has made it the most important cardiovascular medication from both risk-benefit and cost-benefit standpoints. Although aspirin is effective in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction and in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease among both men and women, its use in primary prevention remains controversial, because the risk for gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke may outweigh the benefit of preventing rare cardiovascular events.
Aspirin selectively decreases blood pressure as a function of timing of its administration in relation to the rest activity cycle of each individual subject. The low-dose ASA given before bedtime not only significantly reduced the mean BP (blood pressure) from ABPM (Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring) but also the average of convensional BP measurements. Moreover, we mention about the resistance to aspirin, interaction between ASA and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and the role of aspirin in renography.