What is the effect of adding heparin to aspirin on patients with unstable angina?
Studies have shown that adding heparin to aspirin reduces the incidence of myocardial infarction and death in patients with unstable angina. A meta-analysis conducted by Oler et al. (1996) concluded that adding heparin to aspirin was associated with a significant reduction in mortality and myocardial infarction in patients with unstable angina. Furthermore, a pilot study by Cohen et al. (1990) and a clinical trial by Theroux et al. (1988) found that the combination of aspirin and heparin was more effective than aspirin alone in reducing mortality and myocardial infarction in patients with unstable angina. In addition, Holdright et al. (1994) and Gurfinkel et al. (1995) found that low molecular weight heparin was more effective than regular heparin or aspirin alone in treating unstable angina and silent ischemia.