Valvular heart disease in a patient taking benfluorex.

The authors describe a case of valvular heart disease in a 48-year-old woman receiving benfluorex (150 mg t.i.d. for 8 years) and leading to surgical mitral valve replacement. Examination showed severe dyspnea with severe mitral regurgitation associated with tricuspid regurgitation. No other common disease known to affect mitral valves nor intake of other drugs (ergot derivatives or appetite suppressant drugs) was found. The paper discusses the imputability of benfluorex, a drug used as an adjuvant in hypercholesterolemia, structurally related to amphetamines.