Marfan syndrome meta-analysis: individual patient data analysis reduces heterogeneity

Marfan syndrome is a multisystemic, genetically determined, connective tissue disorder with pronounced effects, especially on the cardiovascular system.1 In particular, dissection of the aorta can lead to premature death in affected patients, whose only effective therapeutic approach is currently surgical vascular replacement.2 Drug options to slow vascular dilatation, and thus aneurysm formation, have been investigated in several randomised controlled trials (one studying a β blocker and the others angiotensin receptor blockers [ARBs]).