Pseudoacromegaly Induced by the Long-Term Use of Minoxidil

    June 2003 in “ Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology ”
    Kari H. Nguyen, James F. Marks
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    TLDR Long-term minoxidil use can cause pseudoacromegaly, but stopping it improves symptoms.
    The article reports a case of pseudoacromegaly, a condition characterized by acromegaloid features in the absence of elevated growth hormone or insulin-like growth factor levels, induced by the long-term use of minoxidil, a medication used to treat hair loss. The patient had been using minoxidil at an unusually high dose for an uncertain period of time. The article describes the clinical manifestations of acromegaly and suggests that minoxidil may have a stimulatory effect on fibroblasts, leading to the development of pseudoacromegaly in some individuals. The patient's symptoms improved after discontinuing the medication, suggesting that minoxidil was the cause of the pseudoacromegaly. The article calls for further study on the long-term effects of minoxidil on skin cells.
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