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Article
Evidence of Absence or Absence of Evidence? A Re-analysis of the Effects of Low-Dose Aspirin in IVF
Fertility and Sterility (2008)
  • Marcus D. Ruopp, National Institutes of Health
  • Tara C. Collins, National Institutes of Health
  • Brian W Whitcomb, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
  • Enrique F. Schisterman, National Institutes of Health
Abstract
Objective—To assess the conflicting evidence whether low-dose aspirin (LDA) is beneficial in invitro fertilization (IVF), and evaluate the meta-analysis performed by Gelbaya et al. in the March 2007 issue of Human Reproduction Update, in which they found no effects of LDA and recommended discontinuing its use in IVF. We present a re-analysis of the effects of LDA in IVF and raise methodological questions regarding the analysis by Gelbaya et al. Design—A meta-analysis of prospective randomized trials evaluating the effects of low-dose aspirin in IVF. Patients—Women undergoing in-vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection Interventions—Low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) Main Outcome Measure(s)—Pregnancy rates, implantation rates, miscarriage rates. Result(s)—Ten randomized clinical trials were included in the analysis. Clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer was significant comparing LDA to non-treatment (RR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.03 – 1.27). Non-significant estimates comparing LDA to non-treatment were found for implantation and miscarriage rates. Conclusion(s)—Our results suggest that aspirin may increase clinical pregnancy rates and that more data is needed to resolve the issue. At this point, there is no reason to change clinical management and discontinue the use of aspirin.
Disciplines
Publication Date
2008
Publisher Statement
The published version is located at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17889863
Citation Information
Marcus D. Ruopp, Tara C. Collins, Brian W Whitcomb and Enrique F. Schisterman. "Evidence of Absence or Absence of Evidence? A Re-analysis of the Effects of Low-Dose Aspirin in IVF" Fertility and Sterility Vol. 90 Iss. 1 (2008)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/brian_whitcomb/8/