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The fear of another stroke has always been the sword of Damocles in many stroke patients. A study has shown that taking the antiplatelet cilostazol can reduce the incidence of stroke among high-risk patients, especially those who already suffered from it before.

The Cilostazol Stroke Prevention Study (CSPS) was a double-blind and placebo-controlled trial done in Japan involving more than 1,000 patients who had a previous stroke. 

It investigated the preventive effects of cilostazol on the recurrence of cerebral infarction (stroke) and it showed a 41.7 percent risk reduction of secondary stroke events with cilostazol compared to placebo. 

Stroke is also known as brain attack. It happens when the vital supply of blood and oxygen is cut off to a part of the brain. 

There are several kinds of stroke. Ischemic stroke, which is the more common kind of stroke, is caused by a blood clot that occludes a blood vessel in the brain. Transient ischemic attack (TIA) happens when there is a temporary interruption of blood flow to a part of the brain.

The second kind is hemorrhagic stroke which happens when a blood vessel bursts, usually due to elevated blood pressure, and bleeds into the brain. 

People with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cholesterol problems and those who smoke and are under excessive stress are all at risk of having stroke.

Those who already experienced a stroke are at a particularly high risk of a subsequent stroke. The risk of patients having a second stroke is greatest in the first 30 days after their first attack but remains elevated over time.

Cilostazol has been proven to reduce the incidence of stroke among high-risk patients but the clinical indication of the drug doesn’t end there. Earlier studies showed that cilostazol can improve the symptoms of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a disease which causes narrowing of the arteries in the lower extremities, causing intermittent claudication.

This is felt by patients as pain in the muscles of the thighs and legs after walking some distance, and relieved after resting. Claudication may also be described as fatigue, numbness, or a cramping sensation. Symptoms may get progressively worse and may even cause leg gangrene in severe cases particularly in diabetics. 

For more inquiries about PAD and the I-PAD Awareness campaign, call the PAD Connect hotline at 811-i-PAD (811-4-723) for Metro Manila or 1-800-1888-i-PAD (1-800-1888—4723) for provincial areas, or log on to www.otsuka.com.ph.