CLINICAL STUDIES
Low prevalence of valvular heart disease in 226 phentermine-fenfluramine protocol subjects prospectively followed for up to 30 months
Andrew J. Burger, MD, FACC*,
Howard B. Sherman, MD*,
Mark J. Charlamb, MD*,
Juhee Kim, MS ,
Laura A. Asinas, JD,
Stacy R. Flickner, RD and
George L. Blackburn, MD, PhD
* Division of Cardiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, West Campus, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Center for the Study of Nutrition Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, West Campus, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Manuscript received June 16, 1998;
revised manuscript received May 27, 1999,
accepted June 11, 1999.
Reprint requests and correspondence: Dr. Andrew J. Burger, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, West Campus, Noninvasive Cardiology Laboratory, Baker-3, 1 Deaconess Road, Boston, Massachusetts 02215
aburger{at}caregroup.harvard.edu
OBJECTIVES
This investigation sought to determine the effect of phentermine-fenfluramine (phen-fen) on the prevalence of valvular heart disease in 226 obese subjects enrolled in a prospective, strict weight loss, research protocol.
BACKGROUND
Early reports have suggested that the use of phen-fen for weight loss may be associated with increased valvular heart disease. Such reports were based on small numbers of patients, limited data on dose and duration of phen-fen therapy, and no correlation with matched controls.
METHODS
All subjects underwent transthoracic echocardiography for significant valvular lesions within a mean of 97 days from the manufacturer’s announcement of the voluntary withdrawal of fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine. All echocardiograms were interpreted by two independent readers.
RESULTS
The study population included 183 women and 43 men with a mean age of 46.9 ± 8.9 years and mean starting body mass index of 39.8 ± 7.7 kg/m2. Using the Food and Drug Administration criteria, significant aortic regurgitation was detected in 15 subjects (6.6%) and mitral regurgitation in 3 subjects (1.3%). Only one patient had significant regurgitation of both aortic and mitral valves. No valves had severe regurgitation. Significant valvular disease did not correlate with the dose or duration of phen-fen therapy. Furthermore, the prevalence of valvular regurgitation is comparable to the normal offspring in the Framingham Heart Study, who are similar in age, gender, and geographical location.
CONCLUSIONS
Phen-fen therapy is associated with a low prevalence of significant valvular regurgitation. Valvular regurgitation in our subjects may reflect age-related degenerative changes.
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Abbreviations and Acronyms
| | ECG | = electrocardiogram | | FDA | = Food and Drug Administration | | phen-fen | = phentermine-fenfluramine |
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