Effect of cilostazol on claudication distances and lipid profile in patients with occlusive peripheral arterial disease: A placebo controlled trial

Abstract

Objectives(s): To study the efficacy and tolerability of cilostazol in patients with moderately severe peripheral arterial disease.

Study Design: Randomized, open label, placebo controlled parallel study.

Methods: It is a prospective, randomized, open label, placebo controlled parallel study conducted in Postgraduate Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics in collaboration with Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Department, Govt. Medical College Jammu for a period of one year.

Results: Out of 53 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria, 28 patients were assigned cilostazol 100mg twice daily, and 25 patients were given placebo twice daily. Cilostazol significantly raised both initial as well as absolute claudication distance, which was well sustained throughout all weeks of follow up, whereas placebo raised he claudication distance for initial few weeks, but decreased it below baseline subsequently. Cilostazol also had significant beneficial effect on lipid profile compared to placebo. There was almost no significant difference in patient’s assessment, physician’s assessment as well as side effect between two groups.

Conclusion: Cilostazol can be an effective treatment for patients of peripheral arterial disease with intermittent claudication. It also has favorable effect on lipid profile. However, long term randomized trials on large scale are required to further substantiate our findings. JMS 2017;20(2):77-81