Aspirin for mitral valve regurgitation

Examples

Generic Name	Brand Name
	Anacin
Ascriptin	aspirin and an antacid
	Bayer
Bufferin	coated to minimize stomach upset

How It Works

Aspirin works quickly (within 15 minutes) to prevent the formation of blood clots. This decreases the chance that a blood clot will form and block a narrowed heart artery, leading to a heart attack or stroke.

Why It Is Used

Aspirin can be used after mitral valve surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots forming. Men and women over age 50 who have one or more risk factors for heart disease can also use it as a preventive measure for coronary artery disease and heart attack.

How Well It Works

Aspirin is effective in preventing the formation of clots in people who have specific heart problems that make clot formation more likely, but is less effective than the anticoagulant medication warfarin (Coumadin).

Side Effects

Side effects of aspirin include:

• Inflammation of the stomach (gastritis).
• Gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Allergic reaction.
• Increased bruising and bleeding (hemorrhage) in the brain (rarely) or other internal organs of the body.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

If you undergo mitral valve surgery, your doctor will probably prescribe other blood thinners. Do not take aspirin along with these without your doctor's permission. Always inform your doctor of any medications or dietary supplements you are using.

Brand-name aspirin is no more effective than generic or store brands.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW Cynthia Tank	Last Updated April 3, 2006
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
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