Makoto Hagiwara, MD; Akihito Tsuchida, MD; Masaya Hyakkoku, MD; Kimio Nishizato, MD; Tateki Asai, MD; Yukinaga Nozawa, MD; Kazufumi Tsuchihashi, MD; Kazuaki Shimamoto, MD
Abstract
The use of the appetite suppressant agents aminorex and fenfluramine derivatives has been reported as a risk
factor for the development of pulmonary hypertension. A 29-year-old female developed pulmonary hypertension
suspected 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 was admitted to Sapporo Medical University Hospital with
dyspnea due to severe pulmonary hypertension. Twelve months prior to admission, she had taken mazindol
continuously for a period of 10 weeks. As yet, her pulmonary hypertension has not completely improved. This is
the first reported case of mazindol-associated pulmonary hypertension, which developed after a long latent interval,
and it suggests that mazindol is also a risk factor for the development of pulmonary hypertension, making
long-term follow-up necessary for patients taking this anorectic agent.
(Jpn Circ J 2000; 64: 218-221)
Key Words: Appetite suppressant; Mazindol; Pulmonary hypertension
Mailing address: Akihito Tsuchida, MD, Second Department of Internal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, S-1, W-16, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0061, Japan. E-mail: atutida@ sapmed.ac.jp