Managing PAD and stroke

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and stroke have a few things in common — both are causes of death and disability, and both are due to blocked arteries.

Antiplatelets like cilos­tazol are drugs used to prevent blood clots from forming, the latter which can lead to heart attack, stroke and PAD complications such as leg gangrene.

Cilostazol is a blood-thinning drug that prevents blood clotting which may cause plaque build-ups within the arteries. It is one of the treatments prescribed by doctors for PAD and prevention of stroke.

“As well as the disability created by PAD, it can sometimes be an early warning of potential heart disease or stroke,” said Dr. Simon Green of the Queensland University of Technology School of Human Movement Studies.

PAD is a disease caused by blocked blood vessels in the limb areas (arms and legs). It causes leg cramps or pain during mobility. And when severe, it becomes disabling.

Just like PAD, stroke is also caused by blocked blood vessels but in another area — the brain. Limited blood circulation in the brain leads to inadequate supply of oxygen. When this happens, it may cause complications such as paralysis with or without lifetime disability.

Health experts are alarmed that not enough information on stroke or PAD preventions is disseminated.

“It is disturbing that so many people do not understand that many strokes can be prevented. There are a number of risk factors that can be controlled to reduce the chances of stroke,” said Dr. Erin Lalor of the National Stroke Foundation.

Blood-thinning agents like cilostazol can be used for the preventive treatment of stroke. The Cilostazol Stroke Prevention Study (CSPS), a clinical trial involving 1,000 prior stroke patients, found that patients who were given cilostazol had a 41.7 percent risk reduction of developing another stroke, compared to patients on placebo.

Patients should be relieved of the disabling PAD symptoms and should be protected from risk of secondary stroke. Experience with cilostazol as an anti-platelet is supported by evidence-based trials for more than 10 years.