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Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid) — Side Effects
1. Gastrointestinal (Most Common)
The GI tract is the primary site of aspirin toxicity, via two mechanisms: direct mucosal irritation (aspirin is acidic) and systemic COX-1 inhibition (↓ prostaglandin-mediated mucosal protection, ↑ acid secretion, ↓ mucus and bicarbonate secretion).
| Effect | Notes |
|---|
| Dyspepsia, nausea, epigastric pain | Occurs at any dose |
| Erosive gastritis | Direct mucosal injury |
| Peptic ulcer disease | Systemic COX-1 inhibition → ↓ PGE₂/PGI₂ |
| GI bleeding (overt or occult) | Risk 1–3% per year at low doses |
| GI perforation | Rare but serious |
Important: enteric-coated or buffered aspirin does not eliminate GI risk — the systemic COX-1 inhibition still occurs. Risk is reduced but not abolished.
Mitigation: proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and H. pylori eradication reduce upper GI bleeding risk in susceptible patients. — Braunwald's Heart Disease 15th Ed.
2. Bleeding / Antiplatelet Effect
- Aspirin irreversibly acetylates platelet COX-1 → permanently blocks thromboxane A₂ synthesis for the platelet's lifespan (~10 days)
- Effect: impaired primary hemostasis (↑ bleeding time)
- Clinically relevant in:
- Surgery (hold aspirin ≥7 days pre-op if not for cardiac indication)
- Combined with anticoagulants (warfarin, heparins, DOACs) → significantly ↑ bleeding risk
- Spontaneous petechiae / purpura at high doses (salicylism)
3. Hypersensitivity / Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD)
- Prevalence: ~0.3% of the general population; up to 10–20% of asthmatics, especially with nasal polyps or chronic rhinitis
- Mechanism: COX-1 inhibition diverts arachidonic acid toward the lipoxygenase pathway → ↑ leukotrienes (LTC₄, LTD₄) → bronchoconstriction, rhinorrhoea, urticaria
- Samter's triad: asthma + nasal polyps + aspirin sensitivity
- Manifestations: bronchospasm, urticaria/angioedema, rhinorrhoea, anaphylactoid reactions
- Cross-reactivity with other NSAIDs (COX-1 inhibitors) is common
4. Salicylism (Chronic Toxicity)
Develops with doses ≥3 g/day (or >100 mg/kg/day) for prolonged periods:
| Symptom | Notes |
|---|
| Tinnitus | Often the first sign; useful clinical marker |
| Sensorineural hearing loss | Dose-related; usually reversible |
| Headache, dizziness | CNS effects |
| Mental confusion, drowsiness | Higher doses |
| Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea | GI component |
| Convulsions and coma | Severe toxicity |
| Petechiae / bleeding | Platelet dysfunction + capillary fragility |
Plasma salicylate > 300 μg/mL → significant adverse effects. — Goodman & Gilman's
5. Acute Overdose — Salicylate Poisoning
Classic triple acid-base disturbance:
- Early: direct medullary stimulation → respiratory alkalosis (hyperventilation, ↓ PaCO₂)
- Later: uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation + inhibition of Krebs cycle → high anion gap metabolic acidosis (↑ lactate, pyruvate, ketones)
- In children: metabolic acidosis predominates
Other features: hyperthermia (uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation), dehydration, hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, pulmonary edema (20–30% of severe cases), CNS depression, coma.
Fatal doses: as low as 3 g in children, 10–30 g in adults (but survival reported at higher doses). — Robbins & Kumar Basic Pathology
6. Renal Effects
- Acute: reduced renal prostaglandins (PGE₂, PGI₂) → ↓ renal blood flow → acute kidney injury (especially in volume-depleted, elderly, CKD, or heart failure patients)
- Chronic: analgesic nephropathy — tubulointerstitial nephritis with renal papillary necrosis from long-term combined analgesic use (aspirin + phenacetin/acetaminophen) — Robbins & Kumar Basic Pathology
- Salicylate clearance is reduced in CKD → drug accumulation
7. Hepatotoxicity
- Dose-dependent hepatotoxicity occurs especially at high anti-inflammatory doses
- Liver histology: nonspecific focal hepatitis, hepatocellular degeneration, hydropic changes (no steatosis — distinguishes it from Reye syndrome)
- Reversible on drug withdrawal — Sleisenger & Fordtran's GI and Liver Disease
8. Reye Syndrome (Paediatric — Special Risk)
- Rare but potentially fatal syndrome: encephalopathy + fatty degeneration of the liver
- Linked to aspirin use in children/teenagers with viral illnesses (influenza, varicella)
- Aspirin is contraindicated in children < 16 years with febrile illness for this reason
- Mechanism: mitochondrial dysfunction; not simply drug-induced liver disease
9. Uric Acid / Gout Effects (Dose-Dependent, Paradoxical)
- Low doses (<2 g/day): inhibit uric acid secretion → ↑ serum urate → can precipitate or worsen gout
- High doses (>4 g/day): inhibit uric acid reabsorption → uricosuric effect → ↓ serum urate
- Intermediate doses have unpredictable effects
10. Other Effects
| Effect | Notes |
|---|
| Fluid retention / oedema | COX inhibition → ↓ natriuretic prostaglandins; worsens heart failure |
| Hypertension | Can blunt antihypertensive effect |
| Prolonged labour / premature closure of ductus arteriosus | Avoid in pregnancy (3rd trimester especially) |
| Hypoglycaemia | High doses potentiate insulin effect (enhances insulin secretion) |
| Vitamin K antagonism | High doses interfere with hepatic synthesis of clotting factors (additive with warfarin) |
Summary by Dose
| Dose | Main Side Effects |
|---|
| Low (75–325 mg/day) | GI bleeding, platelet inhibition, hypersensitivity |
| Anti-inflammatory (3–6 g/day) | Salicylism (tinnitus, hearing loss), hepatotoxicity, nephropathy |
| Overdose (acute) | Respiratory alkalosis → metabolic acidosis, hyperthermia, pulmonary oedema, CNS depression |
Sources: Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics; Robbins & Kumar Basic Pathology; Robbins, Cotran & Kumar Pathologic Basis of Disease; Braunwald's Heart Disease 15th Ed.; Sleisenger & Fordtran's GI and Liver Disease; Fishman's Pulmonary Diseases and Disorders; Katzung's Basic and Clinical Pharmacology 16th Ed.