This study explores the effects on some hematological parameters of a low-dose aspirin regimen (50 mg/day) versus a conventional aspirin treatment with reported antithrombotic efficacy (324 mg/day), in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Fifteen patients were randomized into 3 equal groups receiving 50 mg or 324 mg aspirin or placebo, daily for 21 days. Compared with placebo, bleeding time was significantly and similarly prolonged with both aspirin doses (+ 71 +/- 22% and + 69 +/- 20%, mean +/- S.D.). Aspirin 50 mg/day suppressed arachidonate-induced platelet aggregation and secondary phase aggregation after ADP and adrenaline. Collagen aggregation was inhibited by 44 +/- 15%. In no case were differences in the antiplatelet effects of the two doses observed. The effects of 50 mg/day persisted without attenuation during the observation period. Platelet thromboxane B2 generation during arachidonate-induced aggregation was inhibited by 95 +/- 2 and 99 +/- 1% compared to placebo group after 50 and 324 mg/day, respectively (P between doses less than 0.05). No change was observed with any treatment in coagulation time, prothrombin time or plasma thromboplastin time. Thus, in patients with acute myocardial infarction, the antiplatelet effects of aspirin 50 mg/day are stable over time and superimposable on those of 324 mg/day. The antithrombotic efficacy of aspirin 50 mg/day remains to be tested clinically.