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 -8.47 mg/dl, 95% CI -14.18, -2.75; P = 0.004) and LDL-C (WMD -8.25 mg/dl, 95% CI -14.15, -2.36; P = 0.006) and favorable trends in reducing triglyceride (WMD -15.83 mg/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. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.