Cilostazol reduces the progression of carotid intima-media thickness without increasing the risk of bleeding in patients with acute coronary syndrome during a 2-year follow-up

The Role of Cilostazol, a Phosphodiesterase-3 Inhibitor, in the Development of Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology: A Review with Meta-Analysis

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) stands as the leading global cause of mortality. Addressing this vital and pervasive condition requires a multifaceted approach, in which antiplatelet intervention plays a pivotal role, together with antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and lipid-lowering therapies. Among the antiplatelet agents available currently, cilostazol, a phosphodiesterase-3 inhibitor, offers a spectrum of pharmacological effects. These encompass vasodilation, the impediment of platelet activation and aggregation, thrombosis inhibition, limb blood flow augmentation, lipid profile enhancement through triglyceride reduction and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol elevation, and the suppression of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. However, the role of cilostazol has not been clearly documented in many guidelines for ASCVD. We comprehensively reviewed the cardiovascular effects of cilostazol within randomized clinical trials that compared it to control or active agents and involved individuals with previous coronary artery disease or stroke, as well as those with no previous history of such conditions. Our approach demonstrated that the administration of cilostazol effectively reduced adverse cardiovascular events, although there was less evidence regarding its impact on myocardial infarction. Most studies have consistently reported its favorable effects in reducing intermittent claudication and enhancing ambulatory capacity in patients with peripheral arterial disease. Furthermore, cilostazol has shown promise in mitigating restenosis following coronary stent implantation in patients with acute coronary syndrome. While research from more diverse regions is still needed, our findings shed light on the broader implications of cilostazol in the context of atherosclerosis and vascular biology, particularly for individuals at high risk of ASCVD.

Cardiovascular protection associated with cilostazol, colchicine and target of rapamycin inhibitors

ABSTRACT

An alteration in extracellular matrix production by vascular smooth muscle cells is a crucial event in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases such as aging-related, atherosclerosis and allograft vasculopathy. The human target of rapamycin (TOR) is involved in the synthesis of extracellular matrix by vascular smooth muscle cells. TOR inhibitors reduce arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and left ventricle hypertrophy and decrease cardiovascular risk in kidney graft recipients and patients with coronary artery disease and heart allograft vasculopathy. Other drugs that modulate extracellular matrix production such as cilostazol and colchicine have also demonstrated a beneficial cardiovascular effect. Clinical studies have consistently shown that cilostazol confers cardiovascular protection in peripheral vascular disease, coronary artery disease, and cerebrovascular disease. In patients with type 2 diabetes, cilostazol prevents the progression of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis. Colchicine reduces arterial stiffness in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever and patients with coronary artery disease. Pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective effect of these drugs may be related to interactions between the cytoskeleton, TOR signaling and cyclic AMP synthesis that remain to be fully elucidated. Adult vascular smooth muscle cells exhibit a contractile phenotype and produce little extracellular matrix. Conditions that upregulate extracellular matrix synthesis induce a phenotypic switch toward a synthetic phenotype. TOR inhibition with rapamycin reduces extracellular matrix production by promoting the change to the contractile phenotype. Cilostazol increases the cytosolic level of cyclic AMP, which in turn leads to a reduction in extracellular matrix synthesis. Colchicine is a microtubule-destabilizing agent that may enhance the synthesis of cyclic AMP.

Update on Cilostazol: A Critical Review of Its Antithrombotic and Cardiovascular Actions and Its Clinical Applications

Cilostazol, a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, has vasodilating and antiplatelet properties with a low rate of bleeding complications. It has been used over the past 25 years for improving intermittent claudication in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Cilostazol also has demonstrated efficacy in patients undergoing percutaneous revascularization procedures for both PAD and coronary artery disease. In addition to its antithrombotic and vasodilating actions, cilostazol also inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation via phosphodiesterase III inhibition, thus mitigating restenosis. Accumulated evidence has shown that cilostazol, due to its "pleiotropic" effects, is a useful, albeit underutilized, agent for both coronary artery disease and PAD. It is also potentially useful after ischemic stroke and is an alternative in those who are allergic or intolerant to classical antithrombotic agents (eg, aspirin or clopidogrel). These issues are herein reviewed together with the pharmacology and pharmacodynamics of cilostazol. Large studies and meta-analyses are presented and evaluated. Current guidelines are also discussed, and the spectrum of cilostazol's actions and therapeutic applications are illustrated.

Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Progression as Surrogate Marker for Cardiovascular Risk: Meta-Analysis of 119 Clinical Trials Involving 100 667 Patients

BACKGROUND

To quantify the association between effects of interventions on carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) progression and their effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

METHODS

We systematically collated data from randomized, controlled trials. cIMT was assessed as the mean value at the common-carotid-artery; if unavailable, the maximum value at the common-carotid-artery or other cIMT measures were used. The primary outcome was a combined CVD end point defined as myocardial infarction, stroke, revascularization procedures, or fatal CVD. We estimated intervention effects on cIMT progression and incident CVD for each trial, before relating the 2 using a Bayesian meta-regression approach.

RESULTS

We analyzed data of 119 randomized, controlled trials involving 100 667 patients (mean age 62 years, 42% female). Over an average follow-up of 3.7 years, 12 038 patients developed the combined CVD end point. Across all interventions, each 10 μm/y reduction of cIMT progression resulted in a relative risk for CVD of 0.91 (95% Credible Interval, 0.87-0.94), with an additional relative risk for CVD of 0.92 (0.87-0.97) being achieved independent of cIMT progression. Taken together, we estimated that interventions reducing cIMT progression by 10, 20, 30, or 40 μm/y would yield relative risks of 0.84 (0.75-0.93), 0.76 (0.67-0.85), 0.69 (0.59-0.79), or 0.63 (0.52-0.74), respectively. Results were similar when grouping trials by type of intervention, time of conduct, time to ultrasound follow-up, availability of individual-participant data, primary versus secondary prevention trials, type of cIMT measurement, and proportion of female patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The extent of intervention effects on cIMT progression predicted the degree of CVD risk reduction. This provides a missing link supporting the usefulness of cIMT progression as a surrogate marker for CVD risk in clinical trials.

Effect of Probucol and/or Cilostazol on Carotid Intima Media Thickness in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: A Randomized, Multicenter, Multinational Study

Aim: In a prospective randomized multinational open blinded endpoint study, the long-term effects of probucol or probucol and cilostazol with statin on carotid mean intima media thickness (IMT) were evaluated for the first time.

Methods: Hypercholesterolemic patients with coronary artery disease were randomized to three groups and received study drugs for 3 years: the control with statin alone; the probucol group with statin and probucol; and the combo group with statin, probucol, and cilostazol. Primary efficacy endpoint was changes of mean carotid IMT at 3 years. Biomarkers, major adverse cerebro-cardiovascular events (MACCEs) and safety were secondary endpoints.

Results: Two hundred eighty-one patients were randomized into three groups. All three groups showed significant regression of carotid IMT at 3 years compared with baseline. Decrease in mean carotid IMT was significantly greater in the combo group than in the control group at 1 year. However, there were no significant differences in changes of mean carotid IMT between groups at 3 years (control; −0.12 ± 0.36 mm vs. probucol; −0.11 ± 0.32 mm vs. combo; −0.16 ± 0.38 mm). MACCEs were frequent in the control group, but the difference was not significant (control; 10.8% vs. probucol; 4.4% vs. combo; 6.9%, p = 0.35). Probucol and cilostazol were well tolerated in long-term treatment without serious drug-related adverse reactions.

Conclusion: Probucol or probucol and cilostazol with statin did not reduce carotid IMT in comparison with statin alone in this study. However, the clinical outcome of probucol-based treatment with current standard statin treatment may need further studies.

Progress in the Mechanism and Clinical Application of Cilostazol

Cilostazol is a unique platelet inhibitor that has been used clinically for more than 20 years. As a phosphodiesterase type III inhibitor, cilostazol is capable of reversible inhibition of platelet aggregation and vasodilation, has antiproliferative effects, and is widely used in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease, cerebrovascular disease, percutaneous coronary intervention, etc. This article briefly reviews the pharmacological mechanisms and clinical application of cilostazol.

Effects of Cilostazol-Based Triple Antiplatelet Therapy Versus Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Coronary Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation: An Updated Meta-Analysis of the Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The results of studies on cilostazol-based triple antiplatelet therapy (TAT) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation were inconsistent. To assess the effects of TAT compared with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) after DES/second-generation DES implantation, we performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

METHODS

All relevant studies evaluated were identified by searching the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and ISI Web of Science databases without time and language limitation. Subgroup analyses were performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TAT after second-generation DES implantation.

RESULTS

Eleven RCTs involving a total of 4684 patients were included. The meta-analysis showed TAT was associated with significant beneficial effects on angiographic findings of in-stent restenosis [risk ratio (RR) 0.645, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.470-0.885; P = 0.007], in-segment restenosis (RR 0.606, 95% CI 0.450-0.817; P = 0.001), in-stent late loss (RR - 0.095, 95% CI - 0.136 to - 0.054; P < 0.0001), in-segment late loss (RR - 0.100, 95% CI - 0.139 to - 0.061; P < 0.0001), target lesion revascularization (TLR) (RR 0.570, 95% CI 0.430-0.755; P < 0.0001), and target vessel revascularization (TVR) (RR 0.523, 95% CI 0.380-0.719; P < 0.0001). No significant difference was found in outcomes of all-cause death, cardiac death, definite/probable stent thrombosis (ST), non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), overall bleeding, and major bleeding between the two groups, as well as some minor adverse effects including palpitations, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and hepatic dysfunction. However, the incidence rate of rash, gastrointestinal disorders, and headache was significantly higher in TAT. The second-generation DES subgroup showed similar results, except for the indicators of all-cause death (RR 2.161, 95% CI 1.007-4.635; P = 0.048) and hepatic dysfunction (RR 0.176, 95% CI 0.031-0.995; P = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with DAT, cilostazol-based TAT can significantly improve the angiographic findings of in-stent and in-segment late loss, in-stent and in-segment restenosis, TLR, and TVR after DES/second-generation DES implantation. However, no benefits were observed in outcomes of all-cause death, cardiac death, ST, and MI.

Comparative effects of lipid lowering, hypoglycemic, antihypertensive and antiplatelet medications on carotid artery intima-media thickness progression: a network meta-analysis

Background

Carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) progression is a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis with a high predictive value for future CVD risk. This study evaluates the comparative efficacies of lipid lowering, hypoglycemic, antihypertensive and antiplatelet medications on cIMT progression.

Methods

We conducted a network meta-analysis (NMA) to evaluate the relative efficacies of several drug classes in modifying cIMT progression. After a literature search in several electronic databases, studies were selected by following predetermined eligibility criteria. An inverse variance-heterogeneity model was used for NMA. Sensitivity analyses were performed to check the reliability of the overall NMA, and transitivity analyses were performed to examine the effects of modifiers on the NMA outcomes.

Results

Data were taken from 47 studies (15,721 patients; age: 60.2 years [95% confidence interval (CI) 58.8, 61.6]; BMI: 27.2 kg/m² [95% CI 26.4, 28.0]; and gender: 58.3% males [95% CI 48.3, 68.3]). Treatment duration was 25.8 months [95% CI 22.9, 28.7]. Of the 13 drug classes in the network, treatment with phosphodiesterase III inhibitors was the most effective in retarding annual mean cIMT against network placebo (weighted mean difference (WMD) − 0.059 mm [95% CI − 0.099, − 0.020) followed by the calcium channel blockers (WMD − 0.055 mm [95% CI − 0.099, 0.001]) and platelet adenosine diphosphate inhibitors (WMD − 0.033 mm [95% CI − 0.058, 0.008]). These 3 drug classes also attained the same positions when the NMA was conducted by using first-year changes in mean cIMT. In transitivity analyses, longer treatment duration, higher body mass index (BMI), and a higher baseline cIMT were found to be independently associated with a lesser reduction in annual mean cIMT. However, in a multivariate analysis with these 3 modifiers, none of these factors was significantly associated with annual change in mean cIMT. In the placebo group, age was inversely associated with annual change in mean cIMT independently.

Conclusion

Phosphodiesterase III inhibitors and calcium channel blockers are found more effective than other drug classes in retarding cIMT progression. Age, BMI, and baseline cIMT may have some impact on these outcomes.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12933-019-0817-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Differential effect of concomitant antidiabetic agents on carotid atherosclerosis: a subgroup analysis of the PROLOGUE study

Accumulated evidence shows that some antidiabetic agents attenuate the progression of carotid atherosclerosis assessed as intima-media thickness (IMT). Although some studies have demonstrated an inhibitory effect of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors on carotid IMT progression, in the PROLOGUE study sitagliptin failed to slow progression relative to conventional therapy for 24 months. We hypothesized that differences in the concomitant antidiabetic agents between the groups have influenced the progression of carotid IMT. We performed a post hoc analysis of the PROLOGUE study using subgroups stratified by concomitant antidiabetic agents. Although no subgroup with any combination of agents in the overall patients showed a significant difference between sitagliptin group and conventional therapy group in the changes from baseline in mean common carotid artery (CCA)-IMT at 24 months, a significant attenuation of mean CCA-IMT progression was observed in the sitagliptin group relative to conventional therapy group only in three combination subgroups aged < 70 years, namely no thiazolidinedione; no thiazolidinedione or biguanide; and no thiazolidinedione, biguanide or α-glucosidase inhibitor, even after adjustment for multiple confounding factors. In the three subgroups, no significant difference between sitagliptin group and conventional therapy group in the changes from baseline in HbA1c at 24 months was detected. Our data suggest that some concomitant agents, whose prescription frequencies were increased in the conventional therapy group, may have masked the inhibitory effect of sitagliptin on carotid IMT progression in the PROLOGUE study.

Design and Rationale of the Intima-Medial Thickness Sub-Study of the PreventIon of CArdiovascular Events in iSchemic Stroke Patients with High Risk of Cerebral hemOrrhage (PICASSO-IMT) Study

BACKGROUND

Atherosclerosis is one of the main mechanisms of stroke and cardiovascular diseases and is associated with increased risk of recurrent stroke and cardiovascular events. Intima-medial thickness (IMT) is a well-known surrogate marker of atherosclerosis and has been used to predict stroke and cardiovascular events. However, the clinical significance of IMT and IMT change in stroke has not been investigated in well-designed studies. The PreventIon of CArdiovascular events in iSchemic Stroke patients with high risk of cerebral hemOrrhage-Intima-Media Thickness (PICASSO-IMT) sub-study is designed to investigate the effects of cilostazol, probucol, or both on IMT in patients with stroke.

METHODS

PICASSO-IMT is a prospective sub-study of the PICASSO study designed to measure IMT and plaque score at 1, 13, 25, 37, and 49 months after randomization.

RESULTS

The primary outcome is the change in mean carotid IMT, which is defined as the mean of the far-wall IMTs of the right and left common carotid arteries, between baseline and 13 months after randomization.

CONCLUSION

PICASSO-IMT will provide the largest IMT data set in a stroke population and will provide valuable information about the clinical significance of IMT in patients with ischemic stroke.

The clinical outcomes of triple antiplatelet therapy versus dual antiplatelet therapy for high-risk patients after coronary stent implantation: a meta-analysis of 11 clinical trials and 9,553 patients

Background

The optimal antiplatelet regimen after in-coronary intervention among patients presenting with complex coronary artery lesions or acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has remained unclear. This study sought to evaluate the clinical outcomes of triple antiplatelet treatment (TAPT) (cilostazol added to aspirin plus clopidogrel) in these patients.

Methods

The PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and other Internet sources were searched for relevant articles. The primary end point was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization. The incidence of definite/probable stent thrombosis and bleeding were analyzed as the safety end points.

Results

Eleven clinical trials involving 9,553 patients were analyzed. The risk of MACE was significantly decreased following TAPT after stent implantation in the ACS subgroup (odds ratio [OR]: 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.61–0.85; P<0.001), which might mainly result from the lower risk of all-cause mortality in this subset (OR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.48–0.80; P<0.001). The risk of bleeding was not increased with respect to TAPT.

Conclusion

TAPT after stent implantation was associated with feasible benefits on reducing the risk of MACE, especially on reducing the incidence of all-cause mortality among patients suffering from ACS, without higher incidence of bleeding. Larger and more powerful randomized trials are still warranted to prove the superiority of TAPT for such patients.

Cilostazol research in Asia: can it be applied to European and American patients?

Cilostazol is an antiplatelet drug often used in Asian countries like Korea, Japan, and China. However, it is rarely used in the west. Cilostazol inhibits phosphodiesterase, increases cyclic AMP concentrations, and consequently inhibits platelet aggregation. Interestingly, it also has vasodilatory activity, inhibits vascular smooth muscle proliferation, and protects the endothelium. Studies in Asia have shown that cilostazol is effective in the secondary prevention of stroke. Moreover, it is significantly less likely to cause bleeding complications than aspirin. Additional trials have shown that cilostazol is effective in the prevention of intracranial atherosclerosis progression. Unfortunately, cilostazol has rarely been studied in non-Asian stroke patients and, accordingly, the benefits of cilostazol are less well appreciated in Europe and America than in Asia. Although further studies are required, we suggest that at least some stroke patients (e.g., patients prone to bleeding, patients with intracranial atherosclerosis, etc.) may readily benefit from cilostazol regardless of ethnicity.

Efficacy and safety of cilostazol based triple antiplatelet treatment versus dual antiplatelet treatment in patients undergoing coronary stent implantation: an updated meta-analysis of the randomized controlled trials

The aim of this study was to obtain best estimates of the efficacy and safety of cilostazol-based triple antiplatelet therapy (TAPT: aspirin, clopidogrel and cilostazol) compared with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT: aspirin and clopidogrel) in patients undergoing coronary stent implantation. We searched the literature to identify all randomized clinical trials examining efficacy and safety of TAPT versus DAPT in patients undergoing coronary stent implantation. Major efficacy outcomes were death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), ischemic stroke and stent thrombosis (ST) and the safety outcome was bleeding. Data were analyzed using the Review Manager 5.0.0 software. A total of 19 trials involving 7,464 patients were included. TAPT and DAPT were associated with similar rates of death, non-fatal MI, ischemic stroke and ST, but compared with DAPT, TAPT had lower rates of target lesion revascularization (TLR) (RR 0.67, 95 % CI 0.56-0.82, P < 0.0001) and target vessel revascularization (TVR) (RR 0.65, 95 % CI 0.55-0.77, P < 0.00001), as well as less late loss of minimal lumen diameter (mean difference -0.14, 95 % CI -0.17--0.11, P < 0.00001), and less binary angiographic restenosis (RR 0.54, 95 % CI 0.45-0.65, P < 0.00001). TAPT and DAPT had similar rates of bleeding, but TAPT had significantly higher rates of headache, palpitation, rash and gastrointestinal side-effects. Cilostazol-based TAPT compared with DAPT is associated with improved angiographic outcomes and decreased risk of TLR and TVR but does not reduce major cardiovascular events and is associated with an increase in minor adverse events.

Effect of cilostazol on carotid intima-media thickness in type 2 diabetic patients without cardiovascular event

We investigated the efficacy of cilostazol treatment for 2 years on the attenuation of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) progression in type 2 diabetic patients without cardiovascular disease history, as compared with other antiplatelet agents. We recruited a total of 230 type 2 diabetic patients who had undergone IMT measurement twice within 1.5-2.5 years (mean 2.06 ± 0.32 years) interval. Among these participants, we classified them into three groups according to antiplatelet agent administration at baseline: Group I (n = 66), antiplatelet naïve; Group II (n = 75), other antiplatelet agent administration; and Group III (n = 50), cilostazol administration. We then analyzed the changes in clinical characteristics from baseline to 2 years. The changes in annual mean IMT at 2 years were 0.019 ± 0.045 mm/year, -0.001 ± 0.058 mm/year, and -0.019 ± 0.043 mm/year for Group I, II, and III, respectively (P < 0.001). Mean change in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and triglyceride compared with baseline decreased the most in Group III even after adjustment for statin use. We also observed that the odds ratio of carotid IMT progression at 2 years was the lowest in patients who were treated with cilostazol even after adjustment for change of metabolic parameters. When we categorized patients according to baseline carotid IMT tertile, the efficacy of cilostazol against carotid IMT progression was significant only when baseline IMT was over 0.662 mm (mean 0.801). Two-year treatment with cilostazol strongly inhibited carotid IMT progression compared to other antiplatelet agents in type 2 diabetic patients. This beneficial effect of cilostazol was significant when baseline IMT was thicker than 0.662 mm (mean 0.801 mm).

Efficacy of cilostazol on platelet reactivity and cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: insights from a meta-analysis of randomised trials

BACKGROUND

Cilostazol overcomes high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) and reduces adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, the role for triple antiplatelet therapy (TAPT) with cilostazol in addition to aspirin and clopidogrel after PCI is not well defined.

METHODS

We conducted a MEDLINE/EMBASE/CENTRAL search for randomised trials, until May 2014, evaluating TAPT compared with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) of aspirin and clopidogrel alone in patients undergoing PCI and reporting platelet reactivity and/or CV outcomes. The primary platelet reactivity outcome was differences in platelet reactivity unit (PRU) with secondary outcomes of %platelet inhibition and rate of HTPR. The primary CV outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), with secondary outcomes of death, cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis (ST), target lesion revascularisation (TLR) and target vessel revascularisation (TVR) as well as safety outcomes of bleeding and drug discontinuations.

RESULTS

In 17 trials that evaluated platelet reactivity outcomes, the mean PRU value was 47.73 units lower with TAPT versus DAPT (95% CI -61.41 to -34.04, p<0.0001; mean PRU 182.90 vs 232.65). TAPT also increased platelet inhibition by 12.71% (95% CI 10.76 to 14.67, p<0.0001), and led to a 60% reduction in the risk of HTPR (relative risk=0.40; 95% CI 0.30 to 0.53) compared with DAPT. Moreover, among the 34 trials that evaluated CV outcomes, TAPT reduced the risk of MACE (incident rate ratio (IRR)=0.68; 95% CI 0.60 to 0.78), TLR (IRR=0.57; 95% CI 0.44 to 0.73), TVR (IRR=0.69; 95% CI 0.59 to 0.81) and ST (IRR=0.63; 95% CI 0.40 to 0.98) with no difference for other outcomes including bleeding, even in trials using drug-eluting stents. Drug discontinuation due to adverse effects was, however, higher with TAPT vs DAPT (IRR=1.59; 95% CI 1.32 to 1.91).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients undergoing PCI, addition of cilostazol to DAPT results in decreased platelet reactivity and a significant reduction in CV outcomes including ST, even in the drug-eluting stent era.

Cilostazol eliminates adverse smoking outcome in patients with drug-eluting stent implantation

BACKGROUND

The present study investigated whether cilostazol can eliminate adverse smoking outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 914 patients with successful drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation were randomly assigned to dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT; aspirin and clopidogrel, n=457) or to triple antiplatelet therapy (TAT; DAT with cilostazol, n=457). The effect of smoking on 2-year major adverse cardio/cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in both the TAT and DAT groups was evaluated. Total MACCE were not significantly different between the 2 anti-platelet regimens (9.8% in TAT vs. 11.4% in DAT groups, P=0.45), but the adverse effects of smoking on clinical outcome were different between DAT vs. TAT. Current smokers had a higher prevalence of MACCE than non-smokers in the DAT group (16.7% vs. 9.5%, P=0.04). In the TAT group, however, the adverse effect of smoking was abolished (9.2% vs. 10.1%, P=0.85). Regarding the effects of smoking on the antiplatelet effects of DAT or TAT, post-treatment platelet reactivity (in P2Y12 reaction units; PRU) in current smokers was not significantly lower than that in non-smokers in the DAT group, whereas, in the TAT group, it was significantly lower than that of non-smokers (189±88 vs. 216±89 PRU, P=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Adverse clinical effects of smoking may be eliminated by the addition of cilostazol to DAT after DES implantation. This may be due to the stimulation of cilostazol's antiplatelet effects by smoking.

Long-term clinical efficacy and safety of adding cilostazol to dual antiplatelet therapy for patients undergoing PCI: a meta-analysis of randomized trials with adjusted indirect comparisons

OBJECTIVE

To assess the long-term clinical efficacy and safety of adding cilostazol to aspirin plus clopidogrel (triple antiplatelet therapy, TAT) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and explore its role in the era of new generation adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-receptor antagonists.

METHODS

PUBMED, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing TAT versus dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT), followed by a manual search. Then, a meta-analysis of RCTs comparing TAT versus standard DAT in patients undergoing PCI was performed. Furthermore, indirect comparisons of TAT versus new generation ADP-receptor antagonist based DAT (prasugrel or ticagrelor based DAT) were undertaken, with standard DAT as a common comparator. The included end-points were major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), target lesion revascularization (TLR), target vessel revascularization (TVR), death, myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis, bleeding and other drug adverse events.

RESULTS

Twelve RCTs with a total of 31,789 patients were included. Compared with standard DAT (n = 2551), TAT (n = 2545) significantly reduced the incidence of MACE (OR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.47-0.68, P < 0.00001), TLR (OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.34-0.75, P = 0.0006) and TVR (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.46-0.75, P < 0.0001), and did not change significantly in death (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.44-1.05, P = 0.08), MI (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.45-1.44, P = 0.46), stent thrombosis (OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.27-1.36, P = 0.23), major bleeding (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 0.52-3.85, P = 0.49) and overall bleeding (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.79-1.69, P = 0.45). Compared with prasugrel (n = 6813) or ticagrelor based DAT (n = 6732), TAT (n = 2545) further reduced the incidence of MACE (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.72-0.90, P = 0.0012; OR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.75-0.92, P = 0.0003, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with standard DAT, the long-term use of TAT in patients with PCI gives more benefits in reducing the incidence of MACE, TLR and TVR without increasing bleeding. Furthermore, it might be superior to prasugrel or ticagrelor based DAT in term of MACE, which needs to be confirmed by future studies with direct comparisons.

Triple versus dual antiplatelet therapy for coronary heart disease patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: A meta-analysis

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Previous studies have suggested that cilostazol-based triple antiplatelet therapy (TAT) may be more effective than conventional dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) at improving the clinical outcomes of patients with CHD undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, individually published results are inconclusive. The present meta-analysis evaluated controlled clinical studies to compare the clinical outcomes between TAT and DAT in patients with CHD undergoing PCI. Ten controlled clinical studies were included, with a total of 7,670 patients with CHD undergoing PCI. The total number included 3,925 patients treated with DAT (aspirin and clopidogrel) and 3745 patients treated with TAT (addition of cilostazol to DAT). The crude odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated with either the fixed or random effects model. The meta-analysis results indicated that patients in the TAT group had a significantly lower rate of restenosis compared with that of the DAT group (OR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.45–0.77; P<0.001). The rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and target lesion revascularization (TLR) in the TAT group were significantly lower compared with those in the DAT group (MACE: OR=0.69, 95% CI: 0.56–0.85, P<0.001; TLR: OR=0.61, 95% CI: 0.43–0.88, P=0.008). However, no significant differences between the TAT and DAT groups in terms of mortality rate, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization and stent thrombosis were observed. In conclusion, the results of the present meta-analysis indicated that the efficacy and safety of cilostazol-based TAT therapy is greater than that of conventional DAT therapy for patients with CHD undergoing PCI.

Effects of cilostazol against the progression of carotid IMT in symptomatic ischemic stroke patients

Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a surrogate marker for evaluating atherosclerotic vascular diseases. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor cilostazol attenuates the increase in carotid IMT in diabetes patients. We studied whether cilostazol can reduce the progression of carotid IMT in symptomatic ischemic stroke patients. From our prospective registry of acute ischemic stroke patients who were admitted during a 4.5-year period, follow-up carotid ultrasound was performed in a random sample of survivors. Patients were divided into two groups: the cilostazol group, who continued cilostazol treatment during the follow-up period; and the control group, who were prescribed antiplatelets other than cilostazol. Analysis of covariance and propensity score-matched analysis were used to evaluate the difference between groups. Among a total of 1,049 cases in our registry, 208 patients were utilized to construct two comparable sets by propensity score analysis, including 101 who received cilostazol and 107 who took antiplatelet medication without cilostazol. Both maximum and mean carotid IMT values were significantly reduced in the cilostazol group but increased in the control group (maximum left –0.048 ± 0.186 vs. 0.022 ± 0.163 mm, p = 0.001; maximum right –0.037 ± 0.173 vs. 0.050 ± 0.200 mm, p = 0.001; mean left –0.052 ± 0.102 vs. 0.023 ± 0.112 mm, p < 0.001; and mean right –0.038 ± 0.106 vs. 0.042 ± 0.139 mm, p < 0.001). After matching by propensity score, the improvements in both maximum and mean carotid IMT values in the cilostazol group remained significant. This study shows that cilostazol causes a significant regression in carotid IMT in symptomatic stroke patients.

Cilostazol added to aspirin and clopidogrel reduces revascularization without increases in major adverse events in patients with drug-eluting stents: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

The effects of cilostazol added to aspirin and clopidogrel (triple antiplatelet therapy: TAT) on clinical outcomes after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation are unknown.

METHODS

We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing TAT with aspirin and clopidogrel (dual antiplatelet therapy: DAT) in DES patients. Clinical end points were target lesion (TLR) and/or vessel (TVR) revascularization, death, myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis (ST), bleeding, rash, gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, and drug discontinuation. We calculated the pooled estimate based on a fixed-effects model using Peto odds ratio (OR) for rare events. If heterogeneity was observed across an individual RCT, an analysis based on a random-effects model was performed.

RESULTS

Eight RCTs were included in this meta-analysis, involving 3590 patients (TAT:DAT=1800:1790). Up to 24 months, TAT showed a significant reduction in TLR (OR: 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.43 to 0.78, p<0.001) and TVR (OR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.40 to 0.83, p=0.003) compared with DAT. The incidence of death, MI, ST, or overall or major bleeding was comparable between the 2 groups, whereas the proportion of rash (OR: 2.50, 95% CI: 1.52 to 4.10, p<0.001), GI side effects (OR: 3.14, 95% CI: 1.79 to 5.50, p<0.001), or drug discontinuation (OR: 6.81, 95% CI: 2.12 to 21.86, p<0.001) was higher in TAT than DAT.

CONCLUSIONS

In this meta-analysis, TAT was associated with significantly effective outcomes for TLR and TVR without any increase in major adverse events but was associated with tolerance issues compared with DAT after DES implantation.

The effectiveness and safety of triple-antiplatelet treatment based on cilostazol for patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention: a meta-analysis

The combination of cilostazol, aspirin, and clopidogrel (triple therapy) after percutaneous coronary intervention has been considered as an alternative therapy. We performed a meta-analysis based on 8 randomized controlled trials with a total of 3332 patients to compare the effectiveness and safety of this triple therapy with traditional dual therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel). Our findings suggested that the triple therapy is more effective than dual therapy in preventing restenosis (odds ratio [OR]: 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.40-0.66, P < 0.00001), maintaining minimal lumen diameter (OR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.10-0.20, P < 0.00001), and avoiding target-vessel revascularization (OR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.47-0.82, P = 0.001). There is also no significant difference in major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events between the 2 therapies, except the smaller occurrence rate of target-lesion revascularization in the triple-therapy group (OR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.26-0.69, P = 0.0005). However, the triple therapy is associated with a higher level of adverse drug events, including rash (OR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.41-4.23, P = 0.001), gastrointestinal disorders (OR: 2.59, 95% CI: 1.26-5.30, P = 0.009), and drug discontinuation (OR: 3.80, 95% CI: 1.59-9.10, P = 0.003), but it has no difference in bleeding compared with the dual therapy (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.71-1.55, P = 0.80).

Effect of cilostazol on the progression of carotid intima-media thickness: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

It has been well established that cilostazol has anti-proliferative effect against in-stent restenosis. However, it remains unclear whether cilostazol can prevent the progression of carotid atherosclerosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed a meta-analysis of all relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effect of cilostazol on the progression of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). Five RCTs with 698 patients [597 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)] were included in this study. Cilostazol was associated with a significant reduction in the progression of carotid IMT (WMD, -0.08mm, 95% CI -0.13, -0.04; P=0.00003). Subgroup analysis shows that cilostazol monotherapy or addition to dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel) was superior to placebo (WMD, -0.04mm, 95% CI -0.05, -0.03; P<0.00001), no antiplatelet medication (WMD, -0.12mm, 95% CI -0.21, -0.03; P=0.008), aspirin monotherapy (WMD, -0.06mm, 95% CI -0.12, 0.00; P=0.04) or dual antiplatelet therapy (WMD, -0.16mm, 95% CI -0.30, -0.02; P=0.03) in preventing the progression of carotid IMT. Cilostazol resulted in a significant decrease in total cholesterol (WMD -8.47mg/dl, 95% CI -14.18, -2.75; P=0.004) and LDL-C (WMD -8.25mg/dl, 95% CI -14.15, -2.36; P=0.006) and favorable trends in reducing triglyceride (WMD -15.83mg/dl, 95% CI -32.14, 0.48; P=0.06).

CONCLUSION

It suggests that cilostazol may have beneficial effects in preventing the progression of carotid atherosclerosis and improving pro-atherogenic lipid profile, especially in patients with T2DM. Whether the anti-atherosclerotic effect of cilostazol is independent of improving pro-atherogenic dyslipidemia is worth further investigation.