Pericarditis and Peripheral Edema in a Healthy Man on Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil Therapy
September 2022
in “
JAAD Case Reports
”
TLDR A man got heart and swelling issues from a hair loss medication, so doctors advise careful use, especially in people with past health problems.
The document discusses a case of a 52-year-old man who developed pericarditis and peripheral edema after two weeks of low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) therapy for androgenic alopecia. The man had a history of idiopathic pericarditis complicated by pericardial effusion five years prior but was otherwise healthy. His symptoms resolved within a week after discontinuing oral minoxidil and starting ibuprofen and colchicine. The authors note that minoxidil, an antihypertensive medication, can cause serious adverse effects in patients with preexisting fluid balance disorders. They emphasize the need for caution when prescribing LDOM, especially for patients with high-risk medical histories, as the optimal dosages to avoid these adverse effects are currently unknown.
