Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

New Study Released May Affect Millions of People Taking Aspirin to Help Prevent Heart Attacks and Strokes

Aired December 20, 2001 - 09:21   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: A new study just released that may affect millions of people who are taking Aspirin to help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us now with more.

Sanjay, good morning. I know this is a pretty complicated study, but the bottom line is pretty clear.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, first of all, no one is saying either Aspirin or Ibuprofen are dangerous. The study's talking about the fact that if you take both, Aspirin may not be as effective as it could be. Aspirin is a sort of gold standard medication, keeps the cardiologist away. The problem is, if you add the Ibuprofen as well, which millions of people do, there could be slight problems.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. GARRETT FITZGERALD, UNIV. OF PENNSYLVANIA: We found that a common dose of Ibuprofen interfered with the ability of Aspirin to afford cardioprotection.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUPTA: To try and prevent heart attacks, prevent strokes, Ibuprofen is something known as Motrin or Advil, the common names taken for aches or pains, for anyone with painful joints. Let's try and work through it, Paula, here and try and figure out exactly what the study was saying.

First of all, you have blood vessels in cells -- I'm sorry, you have cells in blood vessels. You have Aspirin, which actually can attach themselves to certain platelets, and inadvertently react to those platelets, and irreversibly inactivate those platelets. Now if you have Ibuprofen, those may also attach themselves to platelets, blocking the Aspirin's effect here, and the platelet then is just allowed to remain in the bloodstream intact. That can be dangerous situation for people who are at risk, because those platelets can clump together and form clots.

So what we're saying here is people who takes Aspirin are given Aspirin by their doctors, to try and present heart attacks, prevent stoke. If they take Ibuprofen regularly -- that means a few times a day over a period of several weeks -- that Ibuprofen may block Aspirin's potential beneficial effect, and that can be a problem -- Paula.

ZAHN: But you would also have to take the Aspirin as well almost daily, right?

GUPTA: That's right. And a lot of doctors tell patients who are at risk to go ahead an take an Aspirin every morning, for example. People who have either had a heart attack in the past, who have a family history may have some risk factors. They may to told to takes an Aspirin. It's a very commonly-prescribed medication for that reason. A lot of people buy those Ibuprofens. That Motrin Advil over the counter, and just take for joint pain. That's when a problem may arise.

ZAHN: You know, it's interesting, Dr. Henry Kissinger was a guest on the show earlier this morning saying, and he heard that report, and he said, wow, I did that just a couple of weeks ago. So there a lot of people out there who did both of the drugs simultaneously. Now they know the danger to it.

GUPTA: Check with the doctor first, and I think this is new information and does affect a lot of people.

ZAHN: All right, doctor, thanks.

GUPTA: Thank you.

ZAHN: Appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com