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more_legal_areas PPHA PPH lawsuit is a civil legal option available to victims of prescription drug use that has caused PPH, or Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. PPH is a rare lung disorder that occurs when the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery rises far above normal levels (from the normal 14mm Hg at rest to 25mm Hg at rest). This causes an increased resistance in blood flow which can lead to heart failure and death. The first case of PPH was discovered in 1891. Three hundred new cases of PPH are diagnosed every year in the United States. The group that experiences the highest incidence of PPH is women between the ages of 21 and 40.
The development of PPH usually has no known cause. In some cases, people who develop this serious condition also have a family member with PPH, indicating that there may be a genetic link involved. People who have a condition known as Raynaud''s disease are also at an increased risk for developing this condition. Cocaine use, HIV and pregnancy are also risk factors for the development of PPH.
A PPH lawsuit is possible when the suspected cause of PPH is the use of Fen-phen drugs. This class of drugs includes Pondimin (fenfluramine) and Redux (dexfluramine) and phentermine. Pondimin and Redux were both recalled from the market in September 1997. After an estimated six to seven million people had taken these diet drugs, the FDA discovered that their use greatly increased a patient''s risk of developing PPH and other serious heart and lung problems.
The symptoms of PPH that may be caused by taking these medications include: excessive fatigue, difficulty breathing, dizziness, fainting spells, swelling in the legs and ankles, a bluish color of the skin and lips, chest pain, a racing pulse, and the feeling of heart palpitations. Diagnosing PPH can be difficult as its symptoms are often confused with those of other heart and lung conditions. There are several medical tests that can help to determine if a patient is suffering from PPH.
Once diagnosed with PPH, the average survival rate is three years. This number may be even less for women who are pregnant because PPH in pregnancy has a very high rate of maternal mortality. There are several medical treatment options available to people with PPH including anticoagulants, diuretics, vasodilators, and calcium channel blocking drugs. The use of supplemental oxygen can also help many patients. The best long term treatment for PPH is lung transplantation. There are also a variety of treatments available to women with PPH during pregnancy.
If you have taken any of the aforementioned diet drugs and have developed PPH as a result, you may be eligible to file a PPH lawsuit. This is a civil lawsuit whereby the victim is able to recover the damages they have lost as a result of these unsafe drugs. In a PPH lawsuit, damages can be recovered for medical expenses, loss of income or earning potential, pain and suffering, and even compensation for death in cases where PPH proved fatal.