Valve replacement for appetite suppressant-induced valvular heart disease.
Valvular heart disease associated with the use of appetite-suppressant medication is a recently described clinical entity. Although the mechanism of valvular injury remains elusive pathologically, the valvular abnormalities resemble those observed in carcinoid syndrome. The incidence of clinically evident valvular heart disease is low with short-term (less than 3 months) exposure to appetite-suppressant drugs. Prolonged exposure to higher doses in addition to combination drug therapy confers an excess risk for valvular pathologic changes. We report the case of a patient with severe mitral regurgitation who had short-term exposure (3 weeks) to the combination of fenfluramine (20 mg) and phenteramine (15 mg).
Biswas
S S
SS
Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
Donovan
C L
CL
Forbess
J M
JM
Royal
S H
SH
Landolfo
K P
KP
D000328:Adult; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010645:Phentermine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D001067:Appetite Depressants; D005277:Fenfluramine; D010645:Phentermine