Anorexigens such as aminorex fumarate and dexfenfluramine are associated wi
th the development of severe pulmonary hypertension (PH), which clinically
and histopathologically is considered indistinguishable from idiopathic or
primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). For the current study, we asked wheth
er anorexigen-associated PH is characterized by monoclonal pulmonary endoth
elial cell proliferation (such as in PPH) or, alternatively, is associated
with a polyclonal endothelial cell proliferation as found in secondary PH.
Analysis of clonality by the human androgen receptor assay was performed in
microdissected endothelial cells of plexiform lesions of two patients with
anorexigen-associated PH. The four plexiform lesions of Patient 1 and the
six of Patient 2 with anorexigen-associated PH exhibited a monoclonal expan
sion of pulmonary endothelial cells, with a mean clonality ratio of 0.03 +/
- 0.01 SE. Our results indicate that appetite suppressant-associated PH is
identical to PPH not only in clinical and histopathologic features but also
, at a molecular level, in terms of the monoclonal nature of the endothelia
l cell proliferation. The anorexigens may accelerate the growth of pulmonar
y endothelial cells in patients with predisposition to develop PPH.