Lead researcher Dr Mark Alberts, Director of the Stroke Program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, told a meeting of the American Stroke Association that more than 56% of the subjects taking part in the study who were taking low dose or coated aspirin seemed to have normal platelet function.
He found that 65% of patients taking coated aspirin ? no matter what the strength ? had no reduced clotting, 75% of patients taking uncoated aspirin did have reduced clotting and 72% of subjects taking 325mg aspirin had ?measurable effects?.
Alberts said that his study explained why aspirin does not seem to work for many people: ?About half the patients who have a heart attack or stroke are taking aspirin at the time they have the heart attack or stroke? he said. He went on to recommend that doctors might want to take the time to check whether aspirin is working in a patient perhaps by using the platelet test.
Reference
Fox, M Reuters News, 14th February 2003