Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of androgenetic (male-patterned) alopecia: A pilot randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been proposed as an effective treatment for different diseases.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of PRP in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA).


METHODS
In this study, 19 men with AGA were recruited among whom 17 men completed the trial. At the beginning, 2 square-shaped areas of 2.5 × 2.5 centimeters, at least 3 cm apart from each other were selected on the scalp of each patient as case and control sites. Then, 1.5 ml of PRP was injected in the case site, while in the control site the same amount of normal saline was injected. These were injected in 2 sessions, 1 month apart. The terminal and vellus hairs were counted in each square at the beginning of the study, and then 1, 3, and 6 months after the first injection.


RESULTS
In the case squares, the mean number of terminal and vellus hairs was 87 and 43 at the beginning and 85 and 42, respectively, at the end of six months.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed that the PRP was not effective in treating AGA of grade 4-6.
a Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences , Ahvaz , The Islamic Republic of Iran.
Mohammad Ali
MA
Mapar
a Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences , Ahvaz , The Islamic Republic of Iran.
Sadegh
S
Shahriari
a Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences , Ahvaz , The Islamic Republic of Iran.
Mohammad Hosein
MH
Haghighizadeh
D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000628:therapy*; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method
Alopecia; PRP; androgenetic; male pattern; platelet-rich plasma