title: The effect of beta-blocker therapy on progressive aortic dilatation in children and adolescents with Marfan's syndrome: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of beta-blockade therapy on progressive aortic dilatation and on clinical outcome in children and adolescents with Marfan's syndrome (MFS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The meta-analysis was instituted, which included studies identified by a systematic review of MEDLINE of peer-reviewed publications. Echocardiogram measurements of the aortic root dimension and outcome measures of mortality and major morbidity were compared between patients who were treated and untreated with beta-blockade therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five studies were included. A total of 224 young patients treated with beta-blocker therapy and 168 patients did not accept medical management. Compared with non-beta-blockade treatment, beta-blockade therapy significantly decreased the rate of aortic dilatation (SMD = -1.30 with 95% CI -2.11 to -0.49). A tendency of clinical outcome beneficial was observed in the beta-blocker treatment group when compared with no beta-blocker treatment group (odds ratio = 0.87 with 95% CI 0.37-2.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is evidence that beta-blockade therapy can slow down the rate of dilatation of the aorta and has clinical benefits on children and adolescents with MFS.
authors: Department of Cardiology, FuWai Hospital and Cardiovascular Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors: Linggen
authors: L
authors: Gao
authors: Qunxia
authors: Q
authors: Mao
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Wen
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Xianliang
authors: X
authors: Zhou
authors: Rutai
authors: R
authors: Hui
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000367:Age Factors; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008382:Marfan Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists