Serum aspirin esterase activity in women with habitual aspirin intake.

A method for the determination of aspirin esterase activity in serum is described. Sera from 59 pregnant women who were habitual aspirin users were found to have a mean enzyme activity value statistically lower than those of 68 non-pregnant women controls or of 12 pregnant women controls who were either occasional users of the drug or were non-users. The distribution of enzyme activity in the experimental group was also significantly different from that of the control group. It is postulated that the low enzyme activity may further aggravate the injurious effects of high intake of aspirin.