A STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF CILOSTAZOL ON PLATELET-FUNCTION AND SERUM-LIPIDS IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES-MELLITUS

An open study to evaluate the effects of cilostazol on platelet function and serum lipids was conducted in 15 patients at the Second Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine. Cilostazol, an antithrombotic agent, was administered orally for two 4-week periods at 50 mg BID during the first 4-week period and at 100 mg BID during the following 4-week period. Patients in the study had diabetes mellitus with fasting blood sugar levels maintained between 100 and 160 mg/dl. The antiplatelet effects of the agent were determined by measuring the inhibition of platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma (PRP), spontaneous platelet aggregation in whole blood, platelet adhesiveness, plasma beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG), and plasma thromboxane B2 (TxB2). Plasma lipid levels were also measured. The results showed that aggregation in PRP and platelet adhesiveness were significantly inhibited after 50 mg BID and 100 mg BID administration. Although spontaneous aggregation in whole blood was also significantly inhibited after 100 mg BID administration, there were no changes in beta-TG and TxB2 levels. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly decreased and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was significantly increased. Cilostazol may be useful for the prevention of vascular complications in patients with diabetes mellitus because of the reduction of platelet function and improvement of serum lipids.