Effect of β-blocker on aneurysm sac behavior after endovascular abdominal aortic repair.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine whether β-blocker (BB) therapy is associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) sac regression after endovascular abdominal aortic repair (EVAR).

METHODS: A total of 198 patients (mean age, 76 years) who underwent EVAR were analyzed (104 in the BB group and 94 in the non-BB group). The primary end point was the incidence of AAA sac regression at 1 and 2 years.

RESULTS: Hypertension, coronary artery disease, and hyperlipidemia were more common in the BB group. The BB group was also more likely to have been prescribed an aspirin and a statin than the non-BB group. The length of proximal neck was significantly longer in the non-BB group than in the BB group. All study patients were monitored for at least 1 year after EVAR, and 2-year follow-up was available in 104 patients (52.5%). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of aneurysm sac regression in either group at 1 year (52.1% in the non-BB group vs 45.2% in the BB group; P = .330) and 2 years (58.5% in the non-BB group vs 64.7% in the BB group; P = .515). The difference of the change of AAA maximum diameter between two groups did not reach statistical significance at 1 year (-6.0 ± 7.0 mm in the non-BB group vs -5.5 ± 8.1 mm in the BB group; P = .644) and 2 years (-9.0 ± 10.5 mm in the non-BB group vs -9.0 ± 10.0 mm in the BB group; P = .977). BB therapy was not associated with increased odds of AAA sac regression. The effect of third-generation BBs on AAA sac regression was not significant.

CONCLUSIONS: BB therapy had no effect on AAA sac regression. At the present time, there is insufficient evidence to recommend BB therapy for the purpose of AAA sac regression.