Cilostazol increases collateral remodeling and reduces the severity of ischemic stroke.

ABSTRACT: The need to identify therapies capable of increasing collateral blood flow after stroke has recently come into focus. This study examined the idea of repurposing an already FDA-approved drug for a new indication-inducing collaterals to remodel to larger diameters after acute stroke. We tested cilostazol, an agent whose molecular mechanism of action suggested such a capability. Importantly, cilostazol is currently used to reduce the incidence of recurrent stroke and transient ischemic attack. In mice with abundant collaterals at baseline, 7-day administration of cilostazol at the dose used clinically beginning 2 h after obstruction of the MCA, boosted collateral growth, that is, anatomic lumen diameter, such that the increase in relative collateral flow post-stroke was augmented by 31% (

SUBMITTER: Zhang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12811096 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature