Minoxidil-Associated Pericardial Effusion With Impending Tamponade: A Case Report

The case report discusses a 72-year-old male patient who developed pericardial effusion, a condition where fluid accumulates around the heart, after being treated with minoxidil for resistant hypertension. The patient's symptoms included dyspnea (shortness of breath) and chest tightness, which worsened after starting minoxidil. After ruling out other common causes of effusion, the doctors suspected minoxidil as the cause. Discontinuing minoxidil led to a significant reduction in pericardial fluid, and the patient's condition improved. The report concludes that minoxidil, a medication commonly used for hypertension and androgenic alopecia, can potentially cause pericardial effusion. Therefore, patients treated with minoxidil should be monitored for symptoms of pericardial effusion. Further research is needed to understand the pathophysiology and risk factors for minoxidil-induced pericardial effusion and to identify optimal management strategies for this condition.