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Preventive effect of beta-blockers in the development of aortic dilation in giant cell arteritis-related aortitis
Anaël Dumont1, Fabien Labombarda2, Sophie Gallou3
1Department of Internal Medicine, Caen University Hospital, Avenue de la Côte de Nacre, 14000 CAEN, France; Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, UR4650 PSIR, CHU de Caen Normandie, 14000 Caen, France.
Objectives:
To analyze whether beta-blockers (BBs), in addition to conventional care, can decrease the risk of aortic dilation in giant-cell arteritis (GCA)-related aortitis.
Methods:
We conducted in a single medical center retrospective study including 65 consecutive patients with GCA-related aortitis who all underwent aortic morphology control during follow-up. The impact of previous cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and/or events on BB prescription and on the risk for new aortic dilation was analyzed using a weighted (8-point maximum) score between 0 (i.e., 0/8 CV risk factors and events) and 1 (i.e., 8/8).
Results:
Among the 65 patients with GCA-related aortitis, 15 (23%) were taking BBs before GCA diagnosis and continued them thereafter. The vascular score was significantly higher in patients who received BBs (0.25 [0.125-0.625] vs. 0.125 [0-0.625] in patients without BBs, p < 0.0001). The median follow-up was 91 [25-163] months in GCA patients taking BBs and 61 [14-248] months in patients not taking BBs (p = 0.13). None of the patients taking BBs developed a new aortic dilation, whereas 15 (15/50; 30%) patients not taking BBs did (p = 0.01), as detected at a median time of 38 [6-120] months after the first imaging. Rates of other CV events during follow-up did not differ between the groups (p = 1).
Conclusions:
This study is the first to suggest that BBs in addition to conventional care in patients with GCA-related aortitis may help to prevent the risk of aortic dilation during follow-up. Larger-sized studies are required to confirm these results.
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