Propranolol Does Not Increase Inflammation, Sepsis, or Infectious Episodes in Severely Burned Children

Abstract

Propranolol treatment attenuates hypermetabolism and does not cause increased incidence of infection and sepsis.

Cardioprotection, attenuated systemic inflammation, and survival benefit of β1-adrenoceptor blockade in severe sepsis in rats*

“…Our findings may be both biologically important and clinically relevant. In this context, it is notable that no excess mortality, septic shock, or infection rate were reported in children treated with propranolol after burn injury (23). By contrast, the recent POISE (perioperative extended metoprolol/␤ 1 blockade) trial reported increased mortality in patients receiving metoprolol (24).…”

Beta-blocker use in severe sepsis and septic shock: a systematic review

“…Nevertheless, beta 2 -receptors may play other important actions. For instance, in children with severe burns, non-selective blocker propanolol attenuates hyper-metabolism, decreasing the resting energy expenditure and reversing muscleprotein catabolism, without increasing the incidence of sepsis 61 .…”

Temporal Cytokine Profiles in Severely Burned Patients: A Comparison of Adults and Children

“…Oxandrolone, a popular anti-catabolic agent, has no effect on inflammation (18). Propranolol, used to decrease heart rate and hypermetabolism following burn, has only small effects on the alteration of specific cytokines (19). Growth hormone is an effective agent in children for decreasing post-burn catabolism and also decreases TNF and IL-1β, but not IL-1α, IL-10, or IL-6 (20).…”