Antiplatelet agents have a beneficial effect in reducing all cause mortality and fatal cardiovascular events in patients with IC .
BACKGROUND Peripheral arterial disease ( PAD ) is common and is a marker of systemic atherosclerosis .
Patients with symptoms of intermittent claudication ( IC ) are at increased risk of cardiovascular events ( myocardial infa rct ion ( MI ) and stroke ) and of both cardiovascular and all cause mortality .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of antiplatelet agents in reducing mortality ( all cause and cardiovascular ) and cardiovascular events in patients with intermittent claudication .
The Vascular and Biochemical Effects of Cilostazol in Diabetic Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease
Objectives : Cilostazol improves walking in patients with peripheral arterial disease ( PAD ) . We hypothesized that cilostazol reduces diabetic complications in PAD patients . Methods : Diabetic PAD patients were prospect ively recruited to a r and omized double-blinded , placebo-controlled trial , using cilostazol 100 mg twice a day . Clinical assessment included ankle-brachial index , arterial compliance , peripheral transcutaneous oxygenation , treadmill walking distance and vali date d quality of life ( QoL ) question naires . Biochemical analyses included glucose and lipid profiles . All tests were at baseline , 6 , and 24 weeks . Results : 26 diabetic PAD patients ( 20 men ) were recruited .  Cilostazol improved absolute walking distance at 6 and 24 weeks ( 86.4 % vs. 14.1 % , P = .049 ; 143 % vs. 23.2 % , P = .086 ) . Arterial compliance and lipid profiles improved as did some QoL indices for cilostazol at 6 and 24 weeks . Blood indices were similar at baseline and at follow-up points for both treatment groups . Conclusions : Cilostazol is a well-tolerated and efficacious treatment , which improves claudication distances in diabetic PAD patients with further benefits in arterial compliance , lipid profiles , and
Antiplatelet agents have a beneficial effect in reducing all cause mortality and fatal cardiovascular events in patients with IC .
BACKGROUND Peripheral arterial disease ( PAD ) is common and is a marker of systemic atherosclerosis .
Patients with symptoms of intermittent claudication ( IC ) are at increased risk of cardiovascular events ( myocardial infa rct ion ( MI ) and stroke ) and of both cardiovascular and all cause mortality .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of antiplatelet agents in reducing mortality ( all cause and cardiovascular ) and cardiovascular events in patients with intermittent claudication .