Rare case of developing pleural, pericardial effusion and anasarca with low-dose oral minoxidil: A report
South Africa: A recent case report published in JAAD Case Reports, reports the case of an African woman with frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) in whom pleural, pericardial effusion and anasarca developed three weeks following low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) therapy.
For many years, topical minoxidil has been used for treating androgenic alopecia and other hair disorders. The mechanism of action of minoxidil is not clearly understood. Still, animal studies have shown that it affects the hair growth cycle by reducing the telogen phase and prolonging the anagen phase. Lately, there has been increasing evidence to support the successful use of LDOM for treating various types of alopecia. The dosing regimens vary from 0.25 to 5 mg daily to twice daily; side effects are reportedly dose-dependent.
The case in question is of a 40-year-old, healthy, Black South African woman with no comorbidities. She presented with a 2-year history of hairline loss involving the frontal and temporal hairlines. A dermatoscopic examination and histologic findings confirmed the clinical diagnosis of frontal fibrosing alopecia. The patient was given the following treatment:- 5% topical minoxidil, clobetasol propionate ointment, tacrolimus ointment 0.1%, twice daily 100 mg of doxycycline, and 0.25 mg of oral minoxidil (OM) daily. She was informed about the adverse effects of all the medications.
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