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.


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).


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Department of Cardiology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 107 West Yanjiang Road, Guangzhou 510120, China.
Deng-Feng
DF
Geng
Jing
J
Deng
Dong-Mei
DM
Jin
Wei
W
Wu
Jing-Feng
JF
Wang
D000368:Aged; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D000077407:Cilostazol; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058987:Phosphodiesterase 3 Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D058987:Phosphodiesterase 3 Inhibitors; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000077407:Cilostazol