Early in the AIDS epidemic there was anecdotal reporting that suggested aspirin could help. Now that we know AIDS is an inflammatory syndrome, make the argument that it wasn't crazy to point to a role for aspirin. It was not unreasonable to propose a role for aspirin early in the AIDS epidemic, even before the full inflammatory basis of the disease was recognized. Aspirin is a classic anti-inflammatory drug with abilities to modulate immune activation, inhibit platelet aggregation, and reduce the production of several pro-inflammatory mediators. Today, the persistent immune activation and systemic inflammation that characterize HIV/AIDS (even under treatment) have been linked to many complications—cardiovascular disease, coagulopathy, and amplified immune dysfunction. Arguments Supporting Aspirin's Potential in AIDS Immune and Platelet Activation: AIDS patients have elevated platelet and immune activation, which contributes to inflammation, coagulation abnormalities, and vasc...