Cilostazol and Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral arterial disease is both common and disabling. Contemporary management of peripheral arterial disease is multimodal, encompassing both medical and interventional treatments. Cilostazol (Pletal), a 2-oxoquinolone derivative, is currently licensed in the UK for the treatment of patients with intermittent claudication to improve their walking distance in the absence of tissue necrosis or rest pain. The therapeutic effects of cilostazol are thought to be mediated through antiplatelet, antiproliferative and vasodilatory activities. This review aims to provide an overview of the management of peripheral arterial disease focusing upon cilostazol pharmacotherapy.