title: Does medical therapy for thoracic aortic aneurysms really work? Are beta-blockers truly indicated? CON.
abstract: Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) often represent the final manifestation of hereditary or degenerative disease processes. TAA are primarily caused by age-related degenerative changes. In this article, the authors highlight the most common pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for TAA formation and review the paucity of evidence supporting the spectrum of medical therapies for TAA other than renin-angiotensin inhibition. More clinical trials on TAA are required before medical therapies such as beta-blockers, statins, and macrolide antibiotics can be recommended.
authors.affiliation: James J. Peters Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Steve L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Sammy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elmariah
authors.forename: Sarina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van der Zee
authors.forename: Brett A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Sealove
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fuster
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists