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Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Case

A Primary Pulmonary Hypertension case is a lawsuit that is filed on behalf of a person or group of persons who has developed PPH or a related heart valve condition as a result of taking a defective prescription diet drug. The plaintiffs in a Primary Pulmonary Hypertension case suffered losses as a result of the once-popular drug Fen Phen. Fen Phen is a combination of fenfluramine and phentermine, sold under the brand names Pondimin and Redux by Wyeth, a division of American Home Products Corporation.

These drugs were taken by an estimated six to seven million Americans before being pulled off the shelves in September 1997. These diet drugs were recalled after medical studies found a drastic increase the risk of developing Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) in Fen Phen users. The FDA received over 100 reports of PPH and related injuries caused by Fen Phen prior to the recall.

A Primary Pulmonary Hypertension case can be devastating due to the progressive and terminal nature of this condition. PPH is a rare lung disorder that significantly increases the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery which is responsible for carrying blood from the heart to the lungs. Upon diagnosis of PPH, the average prognosis is not much longer than three years. Most patients may benefit from medical management of this condition, but no known cure is available to treat this fatal condition. The cost of care in a Primary Pulmonary Hypertension case can reach as much as $500,000 per year.

Thousands of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension cases have been filed since the recall of these dangerous drugs. A Primary Pulmonary Hypertension case may be filed on behalf of a single individual injured by Fen Phen use or may be filed on behalf of a number of victims. A Primary Pulmonary Hypertension case of this nature is called a class action suit. Both individual and class action Primary Pulmonary Hypertension cases have drawbacks and benefits that can be explored further with the help of an attorney who has experience with Fen Phen and Primary Pulmonary Hypertension cases.

Due to the flood of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension cases immediately after the recall of these diet drugs, Wyeth set up a settlement fund intended to compensate the victims of PPH and related Fen Phen injuries. In 2003 it was reported in the New York Times that only one third of the most serious Primary Pulmonary Hypertension cases have been addressed by this compensation fund.

A Primary Pulmonary Hypertension case may still be filed by any individual who took Fen Phen prior to the recall and has suffered subsequent injuries. PPH can be a difficult condition to diagnose, and detection of the condition may occur years after Fen Phen use. Wyeth reported in 2005 that they expect the cost of litigation in Primary Pulmonary Hypertension cases to reach more than twenty billion dollars in total. Only about sixty percent of this estimated amount has been paid to the victims of this fatal medical condition.

If you would like to learn more about your legal rights and options in a Primary Pulmonary Hypertension case, please contact us to speak with a qualified and experienced attorney who can help.

More Fenphen Resources

Pulmonary Hypertension Resource - News, Information and Resources regarding Primary Pulmonary Hypertension and other forms of Severe Pulmonary Hypertension.

Pulmonary Hypertension Association - Features association background, disease and treatment information, news, research, and message boards.

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