title: Hair transplantation in the surgical treatment of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a progressive primary scarring alopecia that occurs mainly on the vertex of the scalp and expands centrifugally. To date, there is a paucity of published prospective studies reporting successful surgical therapy for CCCA.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of hair transplantation using the round (punch) grafting technique in African American women with CCCA.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe 2 African American female patients with CCCA who had endured nearly 5 to 6 years of progressive hair loss on the crown of the scalp. After a scalp biopsy and hair transplant test session, both patients underwent hair transplantation with the use of round grafts. Digital photographs were obtained before and after hair transplantation to determine the hair growth success and response rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hair growth was visibly observed at the recipient sites in both patients beginning between 4 to 5 months post-test session. No postoperative scarring in the recipient or donor areas of the scalp were noted in either patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hair transplantation is a safe well-tolerated procedure to improve hair loss in African American women with end-stage CCCA who histologically display a lack of inflammation on scalp biopsy.
authors.affiliation: *Callender Dermatology and Cosmetic Center, Glenn Dale, Maryland; †Department of Dermatology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, D.C.
authors.forename: Valerie D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Callender
authors.forename: Christina N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: Oge C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Onwudiwe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000505:Alopecia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome