PPH NEWS is an education-based resource site that provides information on the health issues surrounding Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH), including what it is, the symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment options.
This website also provides resource to learn more about your legal rights and remedies if you or someone you know has developed PPH due to the use of diet drugs such as Fen Phen.

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PPH injury

A PPH injury is a rare, but life threatening, medical condition that can be caused by taking harmful appetite suppressant medications. Numerous PPH injury cases have been linked to the use of diet drugs that were widely prescribed for more than two decades. The drugs Pondimin (fenfluramine), Redux (dexfenfluramine), and Fen-Phen (fenfluramine and phentermine) were pulled off the market in 1997 after the rate of PPH injury cases was discovered among users.

American Home Products Corporation voluntarily recalled these drugs as requested by the FDA because of the serious risks associated with taking these drugs, including fatal PPH injury risks. These drugs had been available on the US market since the 1970s and were widely prescribed in hospitals and weight loss centers. Before the recall, an estimated six to seven million people had taken these drugs.

The withdrawal of these defective drugs was prompted by clinical findings discovered through Mayo Clinic research. This study evaluated the echocardiograms of patients who had taken Pondimin and Redux appetite suppressant drugs. An echocardiogram is a medical test that is performed to test the functioning of the heart valves. This study found that about thirty percent of those studied had abnormal echocardiogram results, indicating a potential PPH injury. Many of these patients were asymptomatic but tested positive for a PPH injury or related condition. The Mayo Clinic also discovered 24 cases of PPH injury in patients who had taken Fen-Phen.

A PPH injury, or primary pulmonary hypertension, is a rare but potentially fatal condition affecting the cardiovascular system. A PPH injury causes the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery rise far above safe and normal levels. The pulmonary artery is responsible for pumping blood from the heart to the lungs. When a person suffers a PPH injury, there is an increased resistance in blood flow from the heart to the lungs. This leads to a build up of tissue in the artery walls, causing the heart and right ventricle to expand. A PPH injury can lead to heart failure and death if not promptly diagnosed and successfully treated.

Symptoms of a PPH injury can include: fatigue, trouble breathing, chest pain, dizziness, fainting spells, leg swelling, bluish skin and lips, racing pulse, heart palpitations, and heart murmurs. An echocardiogram can be performed to determine if a person has a PPH injury. PPH injury cases can respond to a number of treatments such as surgery, prescription medications, supplemental oxygen, and the like. The average life expectancy following a PPH injury diagnosis is three years. Pregnancy is one condition that can significantly increase the risk of complications in PPH injury patients.

For those who have taken dangerous appetite suppressants, it may be possible to have a PPH injury without any symptoms. Those who have taken these drugs may wish to speak with a medical professional. If you or a loved one has developed a PPH injury, please contact us to speak with a qualified attorney who can advise you of your legal rights and options.

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