Effect of low-dose aspirin on serum uric acid levels in Chinese individuals over 60: subanalysis of a multicentre randomized clinical trial

P. Zhang, H. Wang, X.-H. Chen, W.-Y. Liang, W.-W. Liu, M.-L. Liu

Department of Geriatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China. liumeilin@hotmail.com

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• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: Uric acid is considered a biomarker for cardiovascular risk. Only a few studies have investigated the effect of aspirin on serum uric acid (SUA) levels with contradictory results. The present study evaluated the effect of aspirin on SUA levels in Chinese individuals over 60 years of age.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Subjects over 60 with coronary artery disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors were enrolled in a multicentre randomized clinical trial. Eligible subjects were randomized to receive 50 mg or 100 mg aspirin daily. Levels of arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation performed by light transmission aggregometry (LTA-AA) and SUA were measured at randomization and two weeks thereafter. In this subanalysis, subjects without aspirin use prior to enrolment were chosen.

RESULTS: A total of 446 subjects were analysed, of which 151 subjects took 50 mg aspirin, and 295 took 100 mg aspirin. Hyperuricaemia was present in 23.3% (104/446) of subjects at baseline. LTA-AA levels were significantly reduced in subjects after taking aspirin for two weeks (both 50 mg and 100 mg, p < 0.001). SUA levels were decreased after aspirin administration (311 μmol/L vs. 302 μmol/L, p < 0.001). Further analysis showed SUA levels were unchanged in normouricaemic subjects (284 μmol/L vs. 280 μmol/L, p > 0.05), while slightly decreased in hyperuricaemic subjects (429 μmol/L vs. 392 μmol/L, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that both 50 mg and 100 mg aspirin significantly inhibited platelet aggregation. Aspirin treatment for two weeks showed no hyperuricaemic effect in people over 60. SUA levels were unchanged after taking aspirin in normouricaemic subjects but decreased in hyperuricaemic subjects. This trial was registered at www. chictr.org.cn as ChiCTR1800018517.

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