title: Evaluation of Not-Activated and Activated PRP in Hair Loss Treatment: Role of Growth Factor and Cytokine Concentrations Obtained by Different Collection Systems.
abstract: Platelet rich plasma (PRP) was tested as a potential therapy for androgenetic alopecia (AGA) through two different clinical protocols in which one population (18 participants) received half-head treatment with autologous non-activated PRP (A-PRP) produced by CPunT Preparation System (Biomed Device, Modena, Italy) and the other half-head with placebo, and a second separated population in which all participants (n = 6, 3 participants per group) received treatment with calcium-activated PRP (AA-PRP) produced from one of two different PRP collection devices (Regen Blood Cell Therapy or Arthrex Angel System). For the A-PRP study, three treatments were administered over 30-day intervals. Trichoscan analysis of patients, three months post-treatment, showed a clinical improvement in the number of hairs in the target area (36 ± 3 hairs) and in total hair density (65±  5 hair cm2), whereas negligible improvements in hair count (1.1±  1.4 hairs) and density (1.9 ± 10.2 hair cm2) were seen in the region of the scalp that received placebo. Microscopic evaluation conducted two weeks after treatment showed also an increase in epidermal thickness, Ki67+ keratinocytes, and in the number of follicles. The AA-PRP treatment groups received a singular set of injections, and six months after the treatments were administered, notable differences in clinical outcomes were obtained from the two PRP collection devices (+90 ± 6 hair cm2 versus -73 ± 30 hair cm2 hair densities, Regen versus Arthrex). Growth factor concentrations in AA-PRP prepared from the two collection devices did not differ significantly upon calcium activation.
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Courmayeur, No. 102, 00135 Rome, Italy. pietrogentile2004@libero.it.|Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department, Catholic University, 1005 Tiranna, Albania. pietrogentile2004@libero.it.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: Cole Hair Transplant Group, Alpharetta, 30004 GA, USA. forhair3@me.com.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: Cole Hair Transplant Group, Alpharetta, 30004 GA, USA. megan.cole@colorado.edu.
authors.forename: Megan A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dermatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy. simone.garcovich@live.it.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garcovich
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomic Pathology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy. alessandrabielli@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bielli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomic Pathology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy. scioli07@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Maria Giovanna
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Scioli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomic Pathology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy. orlandi@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orlandi
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Courmayeur, No. 102, 00135 Rome, Italy. chiarainsalaco@virgilio.it.|Cole Hair Transplant Group, Alpharetta, 30004 GA, USA. chiarainsalaco@virgilio.it.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Insalaco
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Courmayeur, No. 102, 00135 Rome, Italy. valeriocervelli@virgilio.it.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cervelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
keywords: activated PRP; androgenic alopecia; autologous PRP; growth factors; hair loss