Delayed onset of pulmonary hypertension associated with an appetite suppressant, mazindol - A case report

The use of the appetite suppressant agents aminorex and fenfluramine deriva tives has been reported as a risk factor for the development of pulmonary h ypertension. A 29-year-old female developed pulmonary hypertension suspecte d to be due to an amphetamine-like appetite suppressant agent, mazindol ((/-)-5-(p-chlorophenyl)-2,5-dihydro-3H-imidazo [2,1-a] isoindol-5-ol). She w as admitted to Sapporo Medical University Hospital with dyspnea due to seve re pulmonary hypertension. Twelve months prior to admission, she held taken mazindol continuously for a period of 10 weeks. As yet, her pulmonary hype rtension has not completely improved. This is the first reported case of ma zindol-associated pulmonary hypertension, which developed after a long late nt interval, and it suggests that mazindol is also a risk factor for the de velopment of pulmonary hypertension, making long-term follow-up necessary f or patients taking this anorectic agent.