Pericardial effusion associated with minoxidil therapy

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Minoxidil is an oral vasodilator used for hypertension.
• Pericardial effusion is a known potential side effect of minoxidil therapy.

Observation:

• A rare case of pericardial effusion in a patient on minoxidil without apparent renal or cardiac failure is presented.
• Extensive investigations did not identify an alternative cause for the effusion.

Findings:

• The pericardial effusion resolved spontaneously despite the continuation of minoxidil therapy.
• Literature review indicates that minoxidil-induced pericardial effusion typically occurs with severe renal or congestive heart failure.

Implications:

• This case highlights that minoxidil can cause pericardial effusion even in the absence of significant cardiac or renal compromise.
• Discontinuation of minoxidil may not always be necessary when pericardial effusion develops during treatment.