Clinical Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Prospective Comparative Study

BackgroundAndrogenetic alopecia is a progressive, non-scarring hair-loss disorder that may be cosmetically improved with conventional topical therapy, which may be slow and incomplete.

ObjectiveTo assess the clinical efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as an adjunct to 5% topical minoxidil in patients with androgenetic alopecia.

ObjectiveTo compare the clinical efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) when combined with 5% topical minoxidil in patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA).

Methods80 clinically diagnosed androgenetic alopecia (AGA) adults were divided into two groups (A and B) with equal number of 40 each. Group A received monthly intradermal PRP treatment for 4 months along with 5% topical minoxidil and Group B received 5% topical minoxidil treatment for 6 months. Hair density, mean hair shaft diameter, hair-pull test, global photographic score, patient satisfaction and adverse events were measured at baseline, 3 months and 6 months.

ResultsThere were no differences in baseline characteristics between groups. At 6 months, Group A showed a significantly greater increase in hair density than Group B (37.2 +/- 15.6 vs 16.9 +/- 12.8 hairs/cm2; p < 0.001). Mean hair shaft diameter improved more in Group A (11.7 +/- 6.1 vs 6.1 +/- 5.3 microm; p < 0.001). The hairpull test was negative in 82.5% of the PRP-treated patients and in 62.5% of the control patients (p = 0.045). The photographic improvements in Group A were moderate to marked in 75.0% and in Group B were 42.5% (p = 0.003). There were no serious adverse events reported, and the most frequent reported complaints related to PRP were transient pain and erythema.

ConclusionsPRP administered in addition to topical minoxidil resulted in better objective trichoscopic parameters and patient satisfaction than minoxidil alone, and was well tolerated in the short-term.