Also High Dose of Aspirin Prolongs Bleeding Time, But Later After Ingestion
O’Grady and Moncada (Lancet, 1978, ii, 780) found after ingestion of 0.3 g but not after 3.9g of aspirin a significant prolongation of the bleeding time, measured 2h after ingestion. This confirmed their unpublished findings in cats and rabbits, and also their suggestion, that aspirin as an antithrombotic agent should be used in small doses. We decided to test a intermediate dose of 1.5g in comparison to 0.3 and 4.0. Young healthy volunteers received in a double blind trial at random with 14 days interval the three doses. Bleeding time was measured and blood taken for collagen induced aggregation and blood levels of ASA and SA before, 2, 4 and 5.5 after ingestion of ASA. Bleeding time increased significantly 2 h after 0.3g ASA from 213 to 380 sec.(n=8,p <0.01), and from 181 to 408 after 1. g. The high dose of 4g led to a smaller prolongation from 224 to 342 after 2 h, but reached the low dose range after 4 h, 440 sec. (p < 0.01). Collagen-induced aggregation (1 μg/m 1 and 5 μg/ml) was independent from the digese of ASA reduced, beginning after two hours. Our findings do not confirm the result of O’Grady and Moncada. The slower increase of bleeding time after the high dose of ASA must be discussed in relation to ASA and SA blood-levels and reversible inhibition of cyclooxygenase in endothelial cells