Safety of cilostazol in peripheral artery disease: a cohort from a primary healthcare electronic database

Mechanistic Protective Effect of Cilostazol in Cisplatin-Induced Testicular Damage via Regulation of Oxidative Stress and TNF-α/NF-κB/Caspase-3 Pathways

Despite being a potent anticancer drug, cisplatin has limited applicability due to its adverse effects, such as testicular damage. Consequently, reducing its toxicity becomes necessary. In this study, a selective phosphodiesterase-3 inhibitor, cilostazol, which is used to treat intermittent claudication, was examined for its ability to abrogate cisplatin-induced testicular toxicity. Its ameliorative effect was compared to that of two phosphodiesterase inhibitors, tadalafil and pentoxifylline. The study also focused on the possible mechanisms involved in the proposed protective effect. Cisplatin-treated rats showed a significant decrease in sperm number and motility, serum testosterone, and testicular glutathione levels, as well as a significant elevation in malondialdehyde, total nitrite levels, and the protein expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, nuclear factor-kappa β, and caspase-3. These outcomes were confirmed by marked testicular architecture deterioration. Contrary to this, cilostazol, in a dose-dependent manner, showed potential protection against testicular toxicity, reversed the disrupted testicular function, and improved histological alterations through rebalancing of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. In addition, cilostazol exerted a more pronounced protective effect in comparison to tadalafil and pentoxifylline. In conclusion, cilostazol ameliorates cisplatin-induced testicular impairment through alteration of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic pathways, offering a promising treatment for cisplatin-induced testicular damage.

The Ability to Look Beyond: The Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease

This paper offers a practical overview of the contemporary management of patients with peripheral arterial disease presenting intermittent claudication (IC), including clinical and instrumental diagnosis, risk factors modification, medical management, and evidence-based revascularization indications and techniques. Decision making represents a crucial element in the management of the patient with IC; for this, we think a review of this type could be very useful, especially for non-vascular specialists.

Do Patients With Arterial Occlusive Disease of Different Etiologies Benefit Equally From Cilostazol?

BACKGROUND

Cilostazol is a guideline-recommended drug that improves intermittent claudication and quality of life in patients with chronic atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease. The drug is used for most etiologies of arterial occlusive diseases in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate whether patients benefit equally from cilostazol regardless of etiology.

METHODS

Patients on cilostazol were divided into 4 groups according to arterial occlusive disease etiology: (1) atherosclerosis, (2) diabetic angiopathy, (3) embolism/thrombosis, and (4) Buerger disease. Patients' maximum walking distance, ankle-brachial index score and distal tissue oxygen saturation (Sto2), clinical improvement onset time, ability to reach maximum benefit time, vascular surgeries, and wounds were compared before they started cilostazol and after 12 months. Results were evaluated at a statistical significance of P < .05.

RESULTS

In 194 patients, 307 target extremities were evaluated in the 4 disease groups. After cilostazol use, maximum walking distance, ankle-brachial index score, and distal Sto2 increased significantly in all groups (P < .001), but distal Sto2 in the diabetic angiopathy and Buerger disease groups was significantly lower than in the atherosclerosis group (P < .001). Ankle-brachial index and distal Sto2 differences in the Buerger disease group were significantly lower (both P < .001). The vascular surgery counts decreased significantly in the atherosclerosis and embolism/thrombosis groups (P = .019 and P = .004, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Patients with nonatherosclerotic arterial occlusive disease also benefit from cilostazol, but patients with Buerger disease or diabetic angiopathy seem to benefit less. Combining cilostazol with anticoagulant or antiaggregant agents and closer monitoring of these patients may produce better results.

PDE-Mediated Cyclic Nucleotide Compartmentation in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells: From Basic to a Clinical Perspective

Cardiovascular diseases are important causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are major components of blood vessels and are involved in physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions. In healthy vessels, vascular SMCs contribute to vasotone and regulate blood flow by cyclic nucleotide intracellular pathways. However, vascular SMCs lose their contractile phenotype under pathological conditions and alter contractility or signalling mechanisms, including cyclic nucleotide compartmentation. In the present review, we focus on compartmentalized signaling of cyclic nucleotides in vascular smooth muscle. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms clarifies the most relevant axes for the regulation of vascular tone. Furthermore, this allows the detection of possible changes associated with pathological processes, which may be of help for the discovery of novel drugs.

Protocol for the Stimulating β3-Adrenergic Receptors for Peripheral Artery Disease (STAR-PAD) trial: a double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled study evaluating the effects of mirabegron on functional performance in patients with peripheral arterial disease

INTRODUCTION

There is currently only one approved medication effective at improving walking distance in people with intermittent claudication. Preclinical data suggest that the β₃-adrenergic receptor agonist (mirabegron) could be repurposed to treat intermittent claudication associated with peripheral artery disease. The aim of the Stimulating β₃-Adrenergic Receptors for Peripheral Artery Disease (STAR-PAD) trial is to test whether mirabegron improves walking distance in people with intermittent claudication.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The STAR-PAD trial is a Phase II, multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of mirabegron versus placebo on walking distance in patients with PAD. A total of 120 patients aged ≥40 years with stable PAD and intermittent claudication will be randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to receive either mirabegron (50 mg orally once a day) or matched placebo, for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint is change in peak walking distance as assessed by a graded treadmill test. Secondary endpoints will include: (i) initial claudication distance; (ii) average daily step count and total step count and (iii) functional status and quality of life assessment. Mechanistic substudies will examine potential effects of mirabegron on vascular function, including brachial artery flow-mediate dilatation; MRI assessment of lower limb blood flow, tissue perfusion and arterial stiffness and numbers and angiogenesis potential of endothelial progenitor cells. Given that mirabegron is safe and clinically available for alternative purposes, a positive study is positioned to immediately impact patient care.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The STAR-PAD trial is approved by the Northern Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC/18/HAWKE/50). The study results will be published in peer-reviewed medical or scientific journals and presented at scientific meetings, regardless of the study outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12619000423112; Results.

Contemporary Medical Management of Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis. Modifiable risk factors including cigarette smoking, dyslipidemia, diabetes, poor diet quality, obesity, and physical inactivity, along with underlying genetic factors contribute to lower extremity atherosclerosis. Patients with PAD often have coexistent coronary or cerebrovascular disease, and increased likelihood of major adverse cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction, stroke and cardiovascular death. Patients with PAD often have reduced walking capacity and are at risk of acute and chronic critical limb ischemia leading to major adverse limb events, such as peripheral revascularization or amputation. The presence of polyvascular disease identifies the highest risk patient group for major adverse cardiovascular events, and patients with prior critical limb ischemia, prior lower extremity revascularization, or amputation have a heightened risk of major adverse limb events. Medical therapies have demonstrated efficacy in reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and major adverse limb events, and improving function in patients with PAD by modulating key disease determining pathways including inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and metabolic disturbances. Treatment with guideline-recommended therapies, including smoking cessation, lipid lowering drugs, optimal glucose control, and antithrombotic medications lowers the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events and major adverse limb events. Exercise training and cilostazol improve walking capacity. The heterogeneity of risk profile in patients with PAD supports a personalized approach, with consideration of treatment intensification in those at high risk of adverse events. This review highlights the medical therapies currently available to improve outcomes in patients with PAD.

[Prospects of clinical application of cilostazol for peripheral artery disease]

This article presents a review of the literature on studying Cilostazol, a type 3 phosphodiesterase inhibitor, also providing the Russian and foreign statistics on the prevalence of peripheral artery disease. It is underlined that the majority of patients with peripheral artery disease have atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary and cerebral vascular basins. Cilostazol deservedly occupies the first lines in the sections of pharmacotherapy for intermittent claudication in international and Russian consensus documents on peripheral artery disease. The drug has an extensive evidence base for the following pharmacological effects: vasodilating, antiplatelet, endothelial protective, and vasculogenic. Clinical efficacy of Cilostazol was confirmed in 15 randomized clinical trials (3 718 patients with intermittent claudication) studying the use of Cilostazol taken twice daily at doses of 50 mg, 100 mg, and 150 mg as compared with placebo or versus pentoxifylline given in a dose of 400 mg three times daily, with a demonstrable increase in the pain-free walking distance and the maximal walking distance on the background of taking Cilostazol. The drug significantly improves the outcomes of endovascular interventions on arteries of lower extremities, decreasing the incidence of restenosis, prolonging limb survival, and reducing the frequency of major amputations. Many studies addressing the use of Cilostazol in patients with coronary and cerebral atherosclerosis have investigated the effect of the drug as a component of dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin + Cilostazol) and triple antiplatelet therapy (aspirin + clopidogrel + Cilostazol) after endovascular interventions. The addition of Cilostazol to treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the occurrence of re-stenosis, with no increase in the incidence of haemorrhage. Cilostazol may be recommended for patients with multifocal atherosclerosis and resistance to aspirin and clopidogrel. Also presented in the article are the results of a Russian clinical trial studying comparative efficacy of Cilostazol and pentoxifylline in patients with intermittent claudication.

Long term efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban plus cilostazol in the treatment of critical ischemia of the lower limbs in a frail, elderly patient with non valvular atrial fibrillation

Background

Many patients with critical lower limb ischemia are not eligible for revascularization procedures. Still, given the emerging role of both platelet and coagulation activation in the formation of arterial thrombi, they may benefit from the novel anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs.

Case presentation

We describe the case of a male with critical lower limb ischemia complicated by older age, frailty, polymorbidity and non valvular atrial fibrillation, who was deemed as non eligible for surgery. The patient was successfully treated with the combination of rivaroxaban and cilostazol, and the clinical benefit was maintained throughout 32 months, with no occurrence of major or minor hemorrhagic or thrombotic events.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first report on the efficacy and safety of such a combination therapy in critical lower limb ischemia. In a clinical setting in which alternative pharmacological approaches are urgently needed, the association of rivaroxaban and cilostazol warrants further investigations.

Adverse drug reactions

An adverse drug reaction (ADR) is defined as a response to a medicinal product which is noxious and unintended. ADRs are an important cause of morbidity and mortality and increase health costs. The pharmacovigilance systems allow the identification and prevention of the risks associated with use of a drug, especially of recently marketed drugs; they detect signals from data of the global ADR register and also support decisions taken by regulatory agencies in different countries. Only a few drugs are withdrawn from the market, mainly due to hepatotoxicity. Spontaneous notification of ADR is the cheapest, simplest and most used method to recognize new safety drug problems, under-reporting being its main limitation. The future of pharmacovigilance and ADRs will include a higher involvement of patients, doctors, health authorities and pharmaceutical companies, and the use of new technologies.

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.

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases: New targets in the metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic diseases have a tremendous impact on human morbidity and mortality. Numerous targets regulating adenosine monophosphate kinase (AMPK) have been identified for treating the metabolic syndrome (MetS), and many compounds are being used or developed to increase AMPK activity. In parallel, the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase families (PDEs) have emerged as new therapeutic targets in cardiovascular diseases, as well as in non-resolved pathologies. Since some PDE subfamilies inactivate cAMP into 5'-AMP, while the beneficial effects in MetS are related to 5'-AMP-dependent activation of AMPK, an analysis of the various controversial relationships between PDEs and AMPK in MetS appears interesting. The present review will describe the various PDE families, AMPK and molecular mechanisms in the MetS and discuss the PDEs/PDE modulators related to the tissues involved, thus supporting the discovery of original molecules and the design of new therapeutic approaches in MetS.

Pentoxifylline improves the quality of life in type-2 diabetes foot syndrome

Objectives:

To evaluate the effect of pentoxifylline on the quality of life (QoL) in diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) by using Short Form-36 questionnaire, and in reference to the revised neuropathy disability score (RNDS) and grading of diabetic foot.

Methods:

This randomized placebo-controlled study was carried in the Department of Pharmacology at University of the Sulaimani through 2018. A total number of 80 T2D patients were recruited from outpatients Department attended the Center of Diabetes and the Shar Teaching Hospital in the University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani-Iraq. Group I (non-DFS, n=40) were subgrouped into Group-IA treated with placebo (n=20), and Group-IB treated with 400 mg pentoxifylline thrice daily for 8 weeks. Group II (DFS, n=40) sub grouped into Group-IIA treated with placebo (n=20), and Group-IIB treated with pentoxifylline. The primary outcome measures including the data of SF-36, RNDS, and grading of diabetic foot.

Results:

Pentoxifylline therapy significantly reduced the RNDS, improved the clinical evidence of diabetic foot, improved the QoL particularly the domains that related to emotional problems and physical health. Pentoxifylline offered a better effect in DFS compared with non-DFS patients

Conclusion:

Pentoxifylline treatment improves the quality of life in diabetic foot syndrome and its effect is related to the scoring of revised neuropathy disability and grading of diabetic foot.

Pentoxifylline improves the quality of life in type-2 diabetes foot syndrome

Objectives

To evaluate the effect of pentoxifylline on the quality of life (QoL) in diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) by using Short Form-36 questionnaire, and in reference to the revised neuropathy disability score (RNDS) and grading of diabetic foot.

Methods

This randomized placebo-controlled study was carried in the Department of Pharmacology at University of the Sulaimani through 2018. A total number of 80 T2D patients were recruited from outpatients Department attended the Center of Diabetes and the Shar Teaching Hospital in the University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani-Iraq. Group I (non-DFS, n=40) were subgrouped into Group-IA treated with placebo (n=20), and Group-IB treated with 400 mg pentoxifylline thrice daily for 8 weeks. Group II (DFS, n=40) sub grouped into Group-IIA treated with placebo (n=20), and Group-IIB treated with pentoxifylline. The primary outcome measures including the data of SF-36, RNDS, and grading of diabetic foot.

Results

Pentoxifylline therapy significantly reduced the RNDS, improved the clinical evidence of diabetic foot, improved the QoL particularly the domains that related to emotional problems and physical health. Pentoxifylline offered a better effect in DFS compared with non-DFS patients.

Conclusion

Pentoxifylline treatment improves the quality of life in diabetic foot syndrome and its effect is related to the scoring of revised neuropathy disability and grading of diabetic foot.

Treatment of Diabetic Foot Gangrene Using the STAGE Principle: A Case Series

Diabetic foot gangrene with lower extremity ischemia can preclude amputation. However, wound treatment principles based on the Wagner classification system are lacking. We proposed the STAGE principle for the surgical management of diabetic foot wounds. The STAGE principle guides surgical intervention during the wound treatment of diabetic foot ulcers and emphasizes that "based on anatomical layers, the management focuses on blood supply and includes layer-by-layer incision to the infected area, maintenance of effective wound drainage, and step-by-step treatment of the wound." We applied the STAGE principle for the treatment of 7 patients with an ankle brachial index <0.5 and Wagner grade 4 diabetic foot gangrene. The average ankle brachial index was 0.42 (0.32-0.48; SD = 0.06), and male patients smoked an average of 1.28 packs/day (0.4-2; SD = 0.63). The average wound duration was 45.86 days (14-63 days; SD = 18.46). The average wound healing time was 8.86 months (5-13 months; SD = 2.36). The follow-up time was 37.71 months (3-84 months; SD = 25.04; median = 36 months). Patient 1 received endovascular interventional therapy twice for the lower extremity artery, and the wound healed. After 3 months of follow-up, the patient exhibited recurrence. After the third application of endovascular interventional therapy for the lower extremity artery, the blood supply was improved, and the wound healed after 1 month. In summary, the treatment of 7 cases of diabetic foot gangrene with severe lower extremity ischemia using the STAGE principle resulted in remarkable efficacy.