A randomized crossover comparative study of aspirin, cilostazol and clopidogrel in normal controls: analysis with quantitative bleeding time and platelet aggregation test

The effects of three antiplatelet drugs, aspirin, clopidogrel and cilostazol, were examined and compared using a quantitative bleeding time (QBT) test apparatus. In 12 healthy adult male subjects, a QBT test and platelet aggregation test were performed before and after medication. Cilostazol was found to be as effective as aspirin and clopidogrel in inhibiting platelet aggregation. Following the oral administration of aspirin and clopidogrel for 7 days, the bleeding time was significantly prolonged. In contrast, none of these QBT parameters were altered by the cilostazol treatment. This suggests that cilostazol has potent efficacy in inhibiting platelet aggregation without prolonging the bleeding time and changing the bleeding pattern. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.