Hemodynamic Effects of Minoxidil Following Intravenous Infusions in Untreated Hypertensive Patients

The document reports on the hemodynamic effects of minoxidil following intravenous infusions in 41 untreated hypertensive patients with mild to moderate hypertension. The study aimed to establish a concentration-hemodynamic response relationship by mimicking the flat concentration profile seen after topical dosing of minoxidil for androgenetic alopecia. Steady-state serum minoxidil concentrations achieved ranged from 4.5 to 83.0 ng/mL. The study found no significant changes in systolic blood pressure (BP), but there were small and highly variable significant effects on diastolic BP, with a maximum mean change of less than 6 mmHg. A highly significant relationship was observed between the increase in heart rate and serum minoxidil concentration (p<.01, r=0.48), with significant increases in heart rate of more than 5 beats per minute (BPM) for serum concentrations exceeding 20 ng/mL.