title: Meta-analysis of efficacy of platelet-rich plasma therapy for androgenetic alopecia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is used as an off-label treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA); however, published efficacy evidence is still preliminary.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Conduct a meta-analysis of current trial data to estimate efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen studies which investigated the use of PRP for treatment of AGA were identified from the literature. A meta-analysis was used to analyze results from four trials (N = 60) where sufficient quantifiable data extraction was possible. All 13 studies were analyzed qualitatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When comparing PRP treatment to baseline, the overall standardized mean difference was 0.51 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14, 0.88; I2=0%] in favour of PRP treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary results suggest that the investigation of PRP for the treatment of AGA is promising. Controlled trials with quantifiable measures of treatment success are now required to confirm these results.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medicine , University of Toronto School of Medicine , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.|b Mediprobe Research Inc , London , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: b Mediprobe Research Inc , London , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Carviel
mesh_terms: D000505:Alopecia / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: androgenetic alopecia; dermal papilla cells; growth factors; hair restoration; platelet-rich plasma