Pulmonary arterial hypertension and benfluorex: 5 case reports

Benfluorex, an amphetamine derivative, was marketed as an adjunctive drug for patients with hypertriglyceridemia or diabetes with overweight. We describe here 5 cases of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated to a treatment with this drug and notified to the Midi-Pyrenees Pharmacovigilance Centre. All cases are women, exposed to benfluorex during at least 3 years. In most of cases, benfluorex was used off-licence, for overweight.