Medical Therapy for Intermittent Claudication

Effect of cilostazol 100mg bid (○, n=227) on maximum (treadmill) walking distance, relative to baseline, compared with placebo (■, n=239) and pentoxifylline 400mg tds (▴, n=232). *p<0.05 vs placebo; ‡ p<0.05 vs pentoxifylline. Adapted from Dawson et al.[20]

A summary of the efficacy data from the 4 published placebo-controlled trials of cilostazol for changes in maximum treadmill walking distance (and 95% confidence intervals). Adapted from reference 22.

Angiogenesis involves endothelial cell activation, migration and proliferation, followed by expansion and remodelling of extracellular matrix and smooth muscle cell recruitment (arteriogenesis) to form luminal structures capable of maintaining systemic blood pressure. The regulation of angiogenesis is complex, but involves a balance between pro- and anti-angiogenic growth factors.