Aim: 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).
Conclusion: 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.