A Case of Acute Myocardial Infarction Associated with Topical Use of Minoxidil for Treatment of Baldness

In 1999, a 45-year-old Japanese man with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation developed acute myocardial infarction (MI) after using 1% topical minoxidil (RiUP®) for baldness treatment for 4 months. The patient had no history of hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus, or family history of coronary artery disease. Coronary angiography revealed severe stenosis at the proximal portion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The report suggested that while it may be difficult to directly link topical minoxidil use to myocardial ischemia, increased awareness of its potential toxicity was necessary. It was recommended that patients with cardiovascular disorders should be excluded from the therapy.