Pulmonary arterial hypertension and benfluorex: 5 case reports

Therapie. 2011 Mar-Apr;66(2):135-8. doi: 10.2515/therapie/2011018. Epub 2011 Jun 6.

Abstract

Benfluorex, an amphetamine derivative, was marketed as an adjunctive drug for patients with hypertriglyceridemia or diabetes with overweight. We describe here 5 cases of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated to a treatment with this drug and notified to the Midi-Pyrénées Pharmacovigilance Centre. All cases are women, exposed to benfluorex during at least 3 years. In most of cases, benfluorex was used off-licence, for overweight.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Appetite Depressants / adverse effects*
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / therapeutic use
  • Diltiazem / therapeutic use
  • Diuretics / therapeutic use
  • Dyspnea / chemically induced
  • Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Female
  • Fenfluramine / adverse effects
  • Fenfluramine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Furosemide / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / chemically induced*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / therapy
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitral Valve Insufficiency / complications
  • Mitral Valve Insufficiency / surgery
  • Obesity / complications
  • Obesity / drug therapy
  • Oxygen / therapeutic use
  • Sleep Apnea Syndromes / complications

Substances

  • Appetite Depressants
  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Diuretics
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Fenfluramine
  • benfluorex
  • Furosemide
  • Diltiazem
  • Oxygen