Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40015253›Full record

ArticleCardiology2026

The Impact of Cilostazol in Refractory Vasospastic Angina.

Richard Z Lin, Rosanna Tavella, Sepehr Shakib, John F Beltrame

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cardiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Reply to Letter.Cardiology · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Richard Z LinAdelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Rosanna TavellaAdelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Sepehr ShakibAdelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
John F BeltrameAdelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, john.beltrame@adelaide.edu.au.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionRefractory vasospastic angina (VSA) includes patients with disabling angina despite maximally tolerated calcium channel blocker and nitrate therapy. Randomised clinical trial evidence confirms the efficacy of cilostazol in refractory VSA, yet its use in real-world clinical practice is limited. This study evaluated the impact of cilostazol therapy on patient-reported outcomes in patients with refractory VSA.

methodsBetween June 2016 and May 2022, 15 consecutive refractory VSA patients were initiated on cilostazol (50 mg twice daily), with baseline and 3-month responses assessed via the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ). The primary outcome was a clinically significant reduction in angina frequency (i.e., >10-point improvement in SAQ angina frequency score) at 3 months.

resultsA clinically significant reduction in angina frequency was reported in 13 patients (86%) at 3 months, with 3 (20%) becoming angina free. Moreover, over 3 months, median SAQ scores improved for angina frequency (25 [IQR 15, 46] to 75 [30, 82]), physical limitation (53 [44, 67] to 83 [56, 92]), and quality of life (17 [4, 29] to 50 [35, 58]). Additionally, a 54% reduction in angina-related emergency department presentations and 50% reduction in angina-related hospital admissions were noted. Minor medication-related adverse effects were experienced by 3 patients, with no serious adverse effects noted. Cilostazol was continued in 14 patients (93%) beyond the 3-month follow-up period.

conclusionsIn patients with refractory VSA, cilostazol is well tolerated, improves patient-reported outcomes, reduces healthcare utilisation, and thus is an effective therapy in real-world clinical practice.

Indexed as

Angina PectorisCilostazolCoronary VasospasmVasodilator AgentsAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient Reported Outcome MeasuresQuality of LifeTreatment OutcomeCilostazolVasodilator AgentsCilostazolCoronary vasomotor disorderTreatmentVasospastic angina

Identifiers

PMID40015253
PMCPMC13120784

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.