title: Platelet rich plasma for treatment of non-scarring hair loss: systematic review of literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although there are many studies showing the role of platelet rich plasma (PRP) in bone grafts, teeth osteosynthesis, and wound healing, there have been little peer reviewed studies about the safety and efficacy of PRP application in the treatment of hair loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this systematic review, we searched Ovid Medline, Scopus and Web of Knowledge till November 2015 for human studies evaluating the efficacy of PRP for the treatment of non-cicatricial alopecia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 704 articles retrieved in first search, 18 articles matched our inclusion criteria, 14 for androgenic alopecia and four for alopecia areata. They included two case reports, eight case series, six controlled clinical trials and only two randomized controlled trials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the available evidence has shown low quality and controversial results about the efficacy of PRP in treating non-cicatricial alopecias, including androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata. Further randomized controlled studies with more sample size and standard protocols regarding the number and interval of treatment sessions, number of platelets, method of activation, etc., are required to investigate the efficacy and safety of PRP in treating hair loss.
authors.affiliation: a Center for Research and Training in Skin diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Science , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Azin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayatollahi
authors.affiliation: b Clinical Trial Center, Tehran University of Medical Science , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: c Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Science , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Jaleh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gholami
authors.affiliation: a Center for Research and Training in Skin diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Science , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mirminachi
authors.affiliation: a Center for Research and Training in Skin diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Science , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: FaridHossein
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Firooz
authors.affiliation: a Center for Research and Training in Skin diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Science , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Firooz
mesh_terms: D000505:Alopecia / Q000628:therapy*; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000628:therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma
keywords: PRP; alopecia areata; androgenetic alopecia; non-scarring alopecia