Ophthalmohypertension caused by minoxidil

Relevance Minoxidil is currently used to treat androgenetic alopecia. There are isolated reports in the literature, mainly concerning the effect of the drug on trabecular outflow, its paracellular and transcellular pathways [1-3]. Currently, there are data from isolated experimental studies devoted to the effect of minoxidil on the level of IOP. In an experiment on animals, when applied locally, the drug caused a hypotensive effect comparable to that with nitroglycerin instillations. However, in an in vitro study after exposure to minoxidil, the permeability of the trabecular meshwork cell monolayer decreased. An indirect effect of the drug on the level of IOP cannot be ruled out, but such a mechanism has not yet been studied. Conclusion Despite the widespread practice of using the drug, in rare cases, long-term use of minoxidil may be accompanied by the development of side effects that have no obvious connection with the active substance and the course of which has not been sufficiently studied. Keywords: minoxidil; ophthalmic hypertension; intraocular pressure