Cognitive effect of cilostazol in post stroke cognitive impairment: a prospective study
Abstract Background Whether antiplatelet agents have a preventive effect on cognitive function after ischemic stroke remains unknown. This study examined the potential effect of cilostazol, an antiplatelet agent and cyclic adenosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor, on cognitive impairment after stroke in an Asian population. Methods A total of 45 patients using cilostazol (100 mg) twice per day were enrolled as the study group and 45 patients using aspirin (100 mg) or clopidogrel (75 mg) daily were enrolled as the control group. Mini-mental state examination and Cognitive Assessment Screening Instrument were administered at the start of the study and after 6 months. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between the cognitive change and cilostazol use. Results Overall, 60-70% of the patients improved their cognition after 6 months follow up. No significant differences were observed in the cognitive change between the cilostazol and control groups. However, the cilostazol group appeared to perform better in the fluency, language and judgment subdomains. Conclusions In the current study, the clinical course of post stroke cognitive changes was described. Although cilostazol did not make a significant difference in cognitive change after ischemic stroke, it may improve fluency, language and judgment subdomains. These findings should be examined further in randomized clinical trials.