Hemodynamic effects of cilostazol on peripheral artery in patients with diabetic neuropathy

On the basis of vascular involvement, an open clinical trial was performed to determine whether or not the antithrombotic drug cilostazol (6-[4-(1-cyclohexyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl) butoxy]-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinone, OPC-13013, Pletaal, CAS 73963-72-1) applied as a single 100 mg tablet increases peripheral blood flow and prevents diabetic neuropathy in 30 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The hemodynamic effects of this drug on the a. dorsalis pedis were examined using a new real-time two-dimensional Doppler echography. 1 h after oral administration of cilostazol, the cross-sectional area of the a. dorsalis pedis significantly increased from 2.2 +/- 0.2 to 2.9 +/- 0.3 mm2 (p less than 0.05). Also, the a. dorsalis pedis blood flow index significantly increased from 16 +/- 1 to 31 +/- 4 (p less than 0.05). Cilostazol did not affect plasma glucose level (from 213 +/- 14 to 198 +/- 15 mg/dl), but slightly plasma ratio of 6-keto PGF1a to TXB2 (from 0.71 +/- 0.09 to 0.83 +/- 0.12). These effects of cilostazol might ameliorate diabetic neuropathy by improving blood flow and preventing nerve tissue ischemia.