New Fen-Phen study finds heart valve disease may improve after stopping the drugs

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ROCHESTER, MINN. -- New Mayo Clinic research shows that people with mild heart valve disease who took the diet drugs fenfluramine and phentermine may improve after they stop taking the drugs. The report is published in the

December issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. "These new findings should be reassuring for those Americans who took fen-phen," says primary author Donald Hensrud, M.D., a Mayo Clinic physician nutrition specialist. "For the first time, we have evidence that heart valve damage -- at least in people with mild disease -- may not be permanent."

In July of 1997, Mayo Clinic and MeritCare, a clinic based in Fargo, N.D., first reported a clinical observation of unusual heart valve disease in 24 patients who had taken fen-phen. Reports of other cases soon followed. Data provided to the FDA showed that up to 30 percent of diet-drug users may have heart valve abnormalities even though they have no symptoms. Based on this information, the makers of fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine voluntarily withdrew the drugs from the market on Sept. 15, 1997.

Who: Dr. Donald Hensrud
Mayo Clinic physician nutrition specialist

When: Tues., Nov. 30, 1999
12:30 p.m. CST

Where: Baldwin 1st Floor Lecture Hall
200 Fourth Ave. SW, Rochester, MN
News media should park in the Baldwin Building Parking Ramp and take elevator to 1st Floor Lecture Hall.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Tues., Nov. 30, 1999
Fen-phen feed

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Program: 12:30-13:30

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