Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH)

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) is a serious lung disorder that occurs when the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery of the heart rises to excessively high levels for no apparent reason.

The American Heart Association estimates that between 500 and 1,000 new cases of PPH are diagnosed each year, with most of these occurring in women between the ages of 20 and 40.

Although physicians have not yet identified a cause for PPH, it has been linked to appetite suppressants and weight loss drugs such as Fen-Phen and Redux. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1996 showed that using Fen-Phen for three months or longer increased the risk of developing PPH by 23%. PPH was first diagnosed in the 1970s.

Other side effects of Fen-Phen and weight loss drugs include heart valve problems and neurotoxicity.

Symptoms of PPH include weakness, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness, fainting, and shortness of breath. As PPH develops, further symptoms include bluish coloring of the lips and skin, swelling in the ankles and lower legs, and chest pain. If not diagnosed or treated, PPH can lead to death.