Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up of patients previously treated with dexfenfluramine or phentermine/fenfluramine☆

LIMITED INFORMATION IS AVAILable on the natural history of valvular regurgitation after discontinuation of anorexigen therapy. The only large, randomized controlled trial did not show progression or development of new valvular regurgitation approximately 1 year after discontinuationofdexfenfluramine, but only included patients treated for up to 3 months. We previously reported in a multicenter,prospectivecontrolledstudy astatisticallysignificant increase inprevalence of echocardiographic aortic regurgitation (AR) meeting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria of mild or moresevereregurgitationamongpatients previously treated with dexfenfluramine (8.9%) and phentermine/ fenfluramine (13.7%) compared with untreated controls (4.1%) (P .001). Among patients who took anorexigens for3monthsor less, therewasnoincrease in AR prevalence by FDA criteria.