Related Experiment Videos

Effect of cilostazol on cerebral arteries in secondary prevention of ischemic stroke

Jian-Jun Guo1, En Xu, Qing-Yuan Lin

  • 1Department of Neurology, the 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China.

Neuroscience Bulletin
|November 21, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Cilostazol shows comparable effectiveness to aspirin in preventing cerebral artery issues after ischemic stroke. It also demonstrated fewer bleeding side effects and improved blood flow, suggesting it is a safer alternative.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Secondary prevention of ischemic stroke is crucial for reducing recurrence and improving patient outcomes.
  • Cerebral artery condition and cerebrovascular blood flow are key indicators of stroke risk.
  • Aspirin is a standard treatment, but alternative agents are being investigated for enhanced efficacy and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the effects of cilostazol versus aspirin on cerebral arteries and cerebrovascular blood flow.
  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of cilostazol in secondary prevention of ischemic stroke.

Main Methods:

  • Sixty-eight patients with recent ischemic stroke were randomized into cilostazol or aspirin groups.
  • Cerebrovascular condition was assessed using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD).
  • Assessments were conducted at baseline and after 12 months of medication.

Main Results:

  • Cilostazol group had fewer bleeding events (0 vs. 5 in aspirin group, P<0.05).
  • Cilostazol significantly increased systolic peak flow velocity in cerebral arteries (42.9% vs. 27.5% for aspirin, P=0.04).
  • Both drugs showed comparable effects on preventing the aggravation of cerebral arteries, with cilostazol demonstrating a trend towards less aggravation via TCD.

Conclusions:

  • Cilostazol is as effective as aspirin in preventing cerebral artery aggravation in secondary stroke prevention.
  • Cilostazol presents a safer profile with significantly lower bleeding frequency.
  • The improvement in cerebral blood flow velocity with cilostazol may enhance perfusion in ischemic areas.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care01:27

Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is characterized by narrowed arteries that diminish blood flow to the extremities. Effective management of PAD requires an interprofessional approach involving various healthcare professionals. The critical aspects of interprofessional care for PAD patients focus on risk factor modification, drug therapy, exercise therapy, nutrition therapy, critical limb ischemia care, and interventional radiology and surgical procedures.The primary treatment goal for PAD...
Antianginal Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers and Ranolazine01:25

Antianginal Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers and Ranolazine

Angina pectoris, a primary symptom of ischemic heart disease, requires careful pharmacological interventions. In this context, calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and ranolazine have emerged as crucial pharmacotherapeutic agents, providing deep insights into the complexities of angina management.
CCBs, a diverse class that includes dihydropyridines (nifedipine) and diphenylalkylamines (verapamil and diltiazem), exert their effect by blocking calcium channels in cardiac and smooth muscle cells. This...
Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors01:20

Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors

Antiplatelet drugs emerge as frontline defenders against the insidious threat of thromboembolic diseases, where abnormal clots obstruct vital blood vessels. These drugs stand as bulwarks, inhibiting platelet aggregation and clot formation, thereby mitigating the risk of life-threatening conditions like myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and thrombotic strokes.
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, exemplified by the widely known aspirin, wield their power by irreversibly acetylating...
Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators01:23

Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators

Vasodilators, primarily affecting the smooth muscles within arterial and venous walls, are commonly used for hypertension treatment. Medications such as minoxidil and hydralazine primarily target arteries and arterioles, while sodium nitroprusside acts on arterioles and venules. Minoxidil, functioning as a prodrug, is metabolized by hepatic sulfotransferase into its active form, minoxidil sulfate, after oral administration. This metabolite binds to the sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) component of...
Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology01:15

Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology

An ischemic stroke occurs when a cerebral blood vessel becomes obstructed, most often by a thrombus or embolus, interrupting the delivery of oxygen and glucose to brain tissue. Because neurons rely on continuous aerobic metabolism, energy failure begins within minutes of reduced perfusion. The region receiving the least blood flow becomes the infarct core, an area of irreversible cellular death. Surrounding this core lies the penumbra, a zone of hypoperfused but still viable tissue that is...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers01:26

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers

Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are two critical categories of drugs employed in the treatment of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). PAH is a disease that causes high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, resulting in chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...