title: Does medical therapy for thoracic aortic aneurysms really work? Are beta-blockers truly indicated? PRO.
abstract: This article examines the supporting evidence for the widespread use of beta-blocker therapy for chronic thoracic aortic aneurysms and for acute aortic dissection. The historical literature and recent studies are critically reviewed. It concludes that this therapy's usefulness lies in its ability to blunt the severity of the pressure spikes that accompany acute exertion or emotion.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, PO Box 208039, New Haven, CT 06520-8039, USA. john.elefteriades@yale.edu
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Elefteriades
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; 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; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists