# Aspirin for preeclampsia prevention:  Pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenomics of platelet response and pregnancy outcomes

> **NIH NIH R21** · THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $234,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), preeclampsia and gestational
hypertension, are significant drivers of preterm birth and both neonatal and maternal morbidity.
Platelet activation is associated with the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Aspirin is an inhibitor of
platelets and has been shown to reduce the risk of preeclampsia in high risk pregnant patients,
however, the response is dose dependent, as are the risks of adverse effects, and the optimal
dose is not known. Aspirin is well documented to have a variable individual response in platelet
inhibition, however there is currently no method for determining the optimal dose for
preeclampsia prevention for each individual.
Objective: This proposal has three aims to characterize the relationship between aspirin
therapy, platelet function response, and prevention of HDP through a prospective
observational study of pregnant women taking daily aspirin for prevention of preeclampsia. The
results of this proposal will enable a future study on a protocol for individualized aspirin dose
modification for HDP prevention in order to maximize benefit and minimize risks.
Methods: This is a prospective observational cohort pilot study over 24 months of pregnant
women at high risk for preeclampsia who are recommended aspirin therapy. Participants will be
enrolled in the first trimester and have baseline labwork done prior to the initiation of aspirin,
follow up labwork done 1-2 weeks after initiation of aspirin, and pregnancies followed for
outcomes. Aim 1 will evaluate how the PFA-100 closure time and urinary dehydrothromboxane
B2 levels, both markers of platelet function, are correlated with the development of
preeclampsia HDP. Aim 2 will evaluate the pharmacogenomics of a platelet receptor variant and
its association with response to aspirin therapy and development of HDP. Aim 3 will evaluate
select microRNAs as biomarkers for response to aspirin therapy and risk of preeclampsia in
pregnant women.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10135129
- **Project number:** 5R21HD101127-02
- **Recipient organization:** THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Rupsa Chaudhury Boelig
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $234,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10135129

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10135129, Aspirin for preeclampsia prevention:  Pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenomics of platelet response and pregnancy outcomes (5R21HD101127-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10135129. Licensed CC0.

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