In Reply

We wish to thank Drs. Wicker and Bronheim for their interest in our recent publication1 and welcome the opportunity to address their concerns. They question whether the impact of early initiation of β-blocker may have confounded our analysis. This is entirely appropriate because it is possible that metoprolol is preferentially used in acute administration, a population that has been shown to be associated with increased cardiovascular outcomes.First, we would point out that our recent article was not simply arrived at through a data-mining process but carried out to investigate a specific hypothesis: β-receptor selectivity increased stroke rates. Our hypothesis was firmly based on the physiologic changes that we had observed in several previous animal studies.2–4 These experimental investigations, started in 2005, were on the basis of several signals that we had observed in both animal models of stroke5 and a meta-analysis of noncardiac surgical patients.6 Thus, with publication of our recent article,1 there are now both physiologic rationale and human data supporting the THESIS that β selectivity is one of the several possible mechanisms mediating the increase in stroke rates with β receptor antagonists. It is also irrefutable that perioperative β-receptor antagonism is a major patient safety issue.Although we think that the issue of timing is an important component of β-blocker safety, we do not believe that it is the primary reason behind the increased incidence in β-blocker–mediated perioperative stroke. The issue of timing has been addressed now in at least five different articles, all using separate databases, and varied outcome measures, outcomes that are not equivalent. The first report, Flu et al.7 used data from Erasmus Medical Centre. This group and its data resources are currently the object of intense scrutiny. In this article, the only outcome that was different at 30 days was an increased rate of detectable troponin T.* Ellenberger et al.8 showed a difference in number of patients with detectable troponin I. Neither of these studies used the universal definition or screened for myocardial infarction. In addition, neither report show a difference in 30-day mortality rates. More recently, London et al.,9 using the Veteran Affairs Surgical database, could not show a difference in mortality based on the initiation within the 7 days compared with those initiated within 30 days of surgery (etable 15). Wijeysundera et al. have shown that early versus late initiation of β-blockers is associated with a 50% risk-adjusted increase in mortality. Neither myocardial infarction nor stroke rate (using International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10 coding) was shown to be different based on the timing of drug.10 Importantly, this analysis, using a large administrative database in more than 47,000 Medicare patients, found little difference in the proportion of patients initiating metoprolol or bisoprolol early versus those who were chronically β-blocked (table 2 in reference 1).1 Thus, our data do not support the idea that metoprolol is preferentially the drug used clinically in acutely starting perioperative β-blockers. In addition, the cumulative data, in these five reports, do not support the notion that timing is important to postoperative stroke.Third, we also agree that a discussion relating to the dosage of β-blockers is relevant. However, Drs. Wicker and Bronheim are mistaken, the dosages of the three major β-blockers were presented (see line 1 of table 1 in reference 1).1 The median outpatient dosages found in our population reflect the package insert instruction for use of these β-blockers as antihypertensive and antiangina medications. The variability in dose we present reflects what we consider to be the advantage of chronic dosing; that is, dose titration. Moreover, the doses in our study are identical to the outpatient dosages of metoprolol found in the Wallace study.11 We would also point out that the higher the dose of a β-blocker the less likely it would be for the drug will maintain a relative β1 selectivity.As we state in the original article, we agree entirely that this thesis should be subject to further investigation, preferably using a blinded randomized design. Our analysis was intended, and we think reconfirms the possibility that, the physiologic phenomena we demonstrated in animal models of stroke may be active in humans. We are actively seeking support for this proposed randomized trial and invite all interested parties to contact us to get involved in this important investigation.The authors declare no competing interests.

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