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Cilostazol: improving walking distance in patients with intermittent claudication
Deborah J Collinson1, Richard Donnelly
1University of Nottinham Medical School, Derby City General Hospital, Uttoxeter Road, Derby, DE22 3DT, UK.
Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy
|July 1, 2004
Summary
Cilostazol effectively improves walking distance for patients with intermittent claudication, a common peripheral arterial disease symptom. This medication offers a safe and tolerable option when surgery is not feasible.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Intermittent claudication, a symptom of peripheral arterial disease, significantly impacts quality of life by limiting walking ability.
- Patients with intermittent claudication face increased cardiovascular risks and have limited effective medical treatment options beyond exercise.
- Surgical revascularization is only suitable for a small percentage of patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of cilostazol as a symptomatic treatment for intermittent claudication.
- To assess cilostazol's impact on pain-free and maximum walking distances in patients with peripheral arterial disease.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis of eight major, large-scale, multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials involving over 2000 patients.
- Assessment of pain-free and maximum walking distances as primary efficacy endpoints.
Main Results:
- Cilostazol demonstrated significant improvements in both pain-free and maximum walking distances compared to placebo.
- The medication exhibited a favorable overall safety and tolerability profile across the studies.
- Meta-analysis confirmed the efficacy of cilostazol in managing intermittent claudication symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Cilostazol is the first approved medication shown to effectively relieve symptoms of intermittent claudication in large clinical trials.
- Administered as 100 mg twice daily, cilostazol is licensed in the UK, USA, and Japan as an adjunct to exercise for managing moderate-to-severe intermittent claudication.
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