title: Pericardial effusion associated with minoxidil therapy in dialyzed patients.
abstract: Pericardial effusion, diagnosed clinically or by echocardiography, was found in 13 of 16 regularly dialyzed patients (81%) receiving minoxidil for refractory hypertension. In a comparable group of 125 patients not receiving minoxidil, 28 patients (23%) had evidence of pericardial effusion, the difference between the groups being highly significant (p less than 0.0005). In minoxidil treated patients, the effusions resolved spontaneously in 4 (3 remaining on treatment), required pericardiocentesis (3), or pericardiectomy (1), and persisted in 4 (3 remaining on treatment). It is suggested that minoxidil treated dialysis patients be regulary examined for the development of potentially threatening pericardial effusions.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008914:Minoxidil / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D011743:Pyrimidines; D008914:Minoxidil