Yonsei Med J.  2010 Nov;51(6):971-973. 10.3349/ymj.2010.51.6.971.

Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Use of Phentermine

• Bang WD
• Kim JY
• Yu HT
• Cho SS
• Jang JY
• Oh CM
• Joung B
• Chang HJ

• KMID: 1779649
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2010.51.6.971

Abstract

Weight-control drugs (known as anorexigens) such as fenfluramine have been linked with pulmonary hypertension in previous reports. In our case, a 29 year old woman was admitted for shortness of breath and was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. Three months ago, she had been taking phentermine for five weeks. Other factors that might have contributed to the development of pulmonary hypertension were excluded. With treatment, her symptoms improved. This is the first case that can suggest a possible connection between phenermine single medication with pulmonary hypertension. Phentermine has been considered a relatively safe drug to treat obesity, and further investigation is needed to decide the safety and dosage of phentermine.

Keyword

Phentermine; pulmonary hypertension

MeSH Terms

Adult
Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use
Electrocardiography/methods
Female
Humans
Hypertension, Pulmonary/*drug therapy/*etiology
Models, Chemical
Obesity/drug therapy
Phentermine/*adverse effects/*therapeutic use
Radiography, Thoracic/methods
Safety
Sulfonamides/therapeutic use

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Chemical structure of anorexigens. Note structural similarity of phentermine and fenfluramine.

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  Fig. 2 Chest X-ray and ECG. Chest radiographs showed mild prominence of the right ventricular outflow tract. Sign of right ventricular hypertrophy was shown in electrocardiography.

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  Fig. 3 Sign of RV pressure overload on echocardiography. Echocardiography showed tricuspid regurgitation and D-shaped LV. RV systolic pressure estimated 63 mmHg. RV, right ventricle. LV, left ventricle.

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