[Intermittent claudication has a significant negative impact on the patients’ quality of life. Revascularization procedures and noninvasive medical therapie scan improve walking capacity. Cilostazol has IA recommendation for the treatment of intermittent claudication (IC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of three-month cilostazol treatment on the health related quality of life and on the lower limb functional capacity in women (F) and men (M), in patients under 65 years of age (Y) and among patients 65 years of age or older (O) with intermittent claudication in the clinical practice. The study was a multicenter, non-interventional trial, 812 lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) patients (Fontaine II stage, mean age: 67.17 years, male/female: 58.25/41.75%, 506 patients aged ≥65 years) were enrolled, who received cilostazol (50 or 100 mg b.i.d.) for three months. Quality of life was evaluated with the EQ- 5D-3L questionnaire, functional capacity with the WELCH questionnaire. Walking distances, ankle-brachial index were measured at baseline and after 3-month. Upon conclusion of the study, the EQ-5D index improved (baseline: F [female] –0.49±0.23, M (male –0.44±0.22, Y (age <65 years) –0.45±0.21, O (age ≥65 years) –0.47±0.23; 3rd month: –0.27±0.18, –0.25±0.18, –0.25±0.18, –0.26±0.18; respectively, p<0.0001) and there was a significant increase in the WELCH score as well (baseline: F 18±13, M 20±14, Y 21±14, O 18±13; 3rd month: 31±18, 32±18, 32±19, 31±17; respectively, p<0.0001). Both pain-free and maximal walking distance increased: F 60.94%, (median: +50.26%), 49.57%, (median: + 42.86%), M 50.22%, (median: +50%), 37.7%, (median: + 33,33 %), Y 54,35 %, (median: + 56,2%), 36.78%, (median: +42.86%), O 54.62%, (median: +50%), 46.29% (median: +33.33%); respectively (p<0.001). Three months of cilostazol treatment improved quality of life and lower limb functional capacity in claudicant patients regardless of age and gender. The WELCH questionnaire is a useful tool in clinical practice for the evaluation of intermittent claudication treatment.]

[After endovascular intervention in PAD the optimal medical therapy is essential for improving the patency and the quality of life as well as the cardiovascular risk reduction. According to the current guidelines the author gives an overview of the routine therapy and the possible advantages of longtermuse of cilostazol for these patients.]

[Intermittent claudication can seriously impair the patients’ quality of life. Cilostazol was registered in Hungary in 2014. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cilostazol in patients with intermittent claudication. 1405 patients were enrolled to the 6 months, multicenter, non-interventional trial. From the 1331 patients, who completed the study, the data of 674 patients were subjected to efficacy analysis. Pain free and maximal walking distance and the 6 minute walking test improved significantly at 3 months (78.65%, 65.23%, 56.09%; respectively, p<0.001), and a further increase was observed after 6 months treatment (129.74%, 107.2, 80.38% respectively, p<0.001). Adverse events occured in 7.26% of the patients. The most frequent adverse events were headache, diarrhea, dizziness, tachycardia or palpitation. 24 patients (1.7%) stopped cilostazol treatment because of side effects. 6 month cilostazol treatment significantly increased the walking distance in patients with intermittent claudication, without important safety problems.]

[INTRODUCTION - Cilostazol is available in Hungary for patients with peripheral atherosclerotic disease (PAD) since June 2014. PATIENTS AND METHOD - In this prospective clinical data collection 68 patients were investigated with PAD-CI, treated with cilostazol. All patients were in stage of Fontaine II at the beginning of the study. Every patient has been able to control for at least three months. Two investigated groups have been treated with cilostazol. Group I: patients operated on lower extremity with femoropopliteal bypass earlier of this study and group II: patients with PAD but no arterial reconstruction in their medical record. Every patient got 100 mg cilostazol twice a day. Anticholesterol, platelet inhibition treatment have been continued in every case. No patients have taken pentoxifyllin. The end points of the data collection were the walking distance alteration (elongation) expressed in meter and the changing of the complaints of claudication intermittent. 61 patients have tolerated cilostazol treatment without side effects. Seven patients out of 68 have not tolerated it, that is why the treatment was suspended. Thirty-four out of 61 patients’ walking distance was elongated with at least 50 meters. 21 patients’ claudication improved between 50 to 100 meters and 12 patients’ walking distance improved more than 100 meters. CONCLUSION - The cilostazol presumably will be an unavoidable factor in the effective treatment of peripheral atherosclerotic disease. ]

[Intermittent claudication is a typical symptom of lower extremity arterial disease. Cilostazol is a reversible, selective phosphodiesterase-3 inhibitor which has antiplatelet, antithrombotic and vasodilator effects. It is indicated to improve maximal and pain-free walking distance in patients with intermittent claudication in the absence of rest pain or peripheral tissue necrosis. It can be beneficial in diabetic patiens with intermittent claudication, as it has been proved to prevent the development of foot ulcers. In combination with acetyl-salicylic acid it may help maintain stent patency after endovascular intervention and stent implantation. Cilostazol is contraindicated in heart failure. With cilostazol, a clinically proven effective drug has become available in the treatment of intermittent claudication which could improve walking and life quality of patients.]