Very large incidental pericardial effusion attributable to minoxidil: resolution without drainage

We present a case of drug-induced pericardial effusion in a patient with end-stage renal disease. Hypertension is frequent among patients with chronic renal failure and sometimes it is necessary to use agents, like minoxidil. Many papers have reported the association between minoxidil and pericardial effusion, both in dialysis patients and those with normal renal function. These effusions sometimes require drainage because of tamponade, but usually disappear after discontinuation of the drug, which is what happened in our patient. In any patient on dialysis treated with minoxidil, the appearance of pericardial effusion unresponsive to ultrafiltration should launch the suspicion of this complication and the drug should be withdrawn.