Aspirin is safe for patients who have had a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain, a new study found.

Aspirin does not increase the risk of new brain bleeds, and may even lower it, The Lancet research suggests, BBC reports.

537 people followed

The research team analysed data in the UK from 537 people who had had a brain bleed while taking anti-platelet medicines. The aim of this therapy was to stop blood clotting. Applied were aspirin, dipyridamole or another drug called clopidogrel.

Over the 5 years period of the study, 12 of those who kept taking the tablets suffered a brain bleed, compared with 23 of those who stopped.

Aspirin and lower risk

It appears that aspirin is linked to a lower risk, the study convludes. But the research cannot prove that aspirin prevents future strokes  It suggests that more patients - those with haemorrhagic or brain bleed strokes - might benefit from daily treatment.

UK and European guidelines do not give any recommendation, because there hasn't been enough evidence. I think we have now confirmed safety with these findings. It certainly seems that aspirin is safe enough to give.", lead researcher, Prof Rutsam Salman, from the University of Edinburgh, said to BBC.

Read the whole study HERE