title: Platelet-rich fibrin matrix (PRFM) for androgenetic alopecia.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of platelet-rich fibrin matrix (PRFM) treatment on androgenetic alopecia. Prospective cohort study of 15 (9 male and 6 female) subjects with androgenetic alopecia for at least 1 year who were treated with intradermal injections of autologous PRFM three times on a monthly basis. Hair density indices were measured in triplicate in the same area of the scalp before the treatment and 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after initial treatment. Hair density index (HDI) measurements were obtained and compared with pretreatment values for each subject. After a series of three intradermal PRFM injections, hair density indices increased significantly at 2 (47.4 ± 22.7%, p = 0.0031) and 3 (106.4 ± 56.9%, p = 0.0277, paired t-test) months after the initial treatment, and approached statistical significance at 6 months (75.1 ± 46.82%, p = 0.0606) after the initial treatment. Patients who achieved greater than 25% increase in HDI by 2 months after the initial treatment were more likely to have greater than 25% improvement at 6 months after the initial treatment (100 vs. 16.7%, p = 0.0476). Androgenetic alopecia affects a significant number of both men and women. A series of intradermal injections of autologous PRFM increased the HDI in patients with androgenetic alopecia at 2 and 3 months after initial treatment; this improvement approached statistical significance at 6 months after initiating treatment. Autologous PRFM injections may be a valuable treatment for androgenetic alopecia, particularly in cases with mild hair loss. The level of evidence is level 2.
authors.affiliation: Division of Facial Plastic Surgery, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mt. Sinai, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Sclafani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000628:therapy*; D001792:Blood Platelets; D005260:Female; D005337:Fibrin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D005337:Fibrin