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Extrapolation of trial results suggests that aspirin is useful in intermittent claudication

BMJ 1998; 317 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.317.7172.1587a (Published 05 December 1998) Cite this as: BMJ 1998;317:1587
  1. Paolo Gresele, Consultant in internal medicine,
  2. Rino Migliacci, Consultant in internal medicine
  1. Institute of Internal and Vascular Medicine, University of Perugia, I-06126 Perugia, Italy
  2. Department of Medicine, Cortona Hospital, Cortona, Italy

    EDITOR—In their evidence based guidelines Eccles et al conclude that aspirin is unlikely to have a beneficial effect on the incidence of major cardiovascular events in patients with intermittent claudication.1 In contrast, an editorial by Fowkes et al suggests that aspirin may be effective, and thus warranted, even in asymptomatic peripheral vascular disease.2

    Surprisingly, these opposite statements are both claimed to draw largely on the work of the Antiplatelet Trialists' Collaboration.3 Only four studies, however, have specifically compared aspirin with placebo in …

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