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Beta-blockers reduce recurrent-MI and total-mortality rates. To assess whether beta-blocker therapy alters atheroma progression in adults with known coronary artery disease, the authors conducted a pooled analysis of patient data from four manufacturer-sponsored trials of intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS). The trials were designed to examine possible coronary antiatherosclerotic effects of various classes of drugs.
Data on 1515 patients were available for the current analysis. Of these patients, 1154 (76%) had received concomitant beta-blocker treatment at any point during the trials. Compared with nonrecipients, beta-blocker recipients had lower average diastolic blood pressure; were more likely to have had histories of hypertension, ang…