Randomised trial of oral aspirin for chronic venous leg ulcers

The effect of oral aspirin on the healing rate of chronic venous leg ulcers was compared with that of placebo in a double-blind randomised trial. 20 subjects with chronic venous leg ulcers were randomised to daily enteric-coated aspirin 300 mg or placebo, and standardised compression bandaging. 4 months of treatment achieved ulcer healing in 38% of the patients receiving aspirin compared with 0% of those receiving placebo (p <0.007). 52% of the aspirin-treated group showed significant reduction in ulcer size compared with 26% of placebo recipients (p <0.007). Reduction in ulcer surface area was significantly better in the aspirin-treated group at 2 (p <0.01) and 4 months (p <0.002) compared with that in the placebo group.