"Treatment of male pattern alopecia with platelet-rich plasma: a double blind controlled study with analysis of platelet number and growth factor levels"

Publication date: Available online 2 October 2018

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Author(s): Bruno L. Rodrigues, Silmara AL. Montalvão, Rebeca BB. Cancela, Francesca AR. Silva, Aline Urban, Stephany C. Huber, José Luiz RC Júnior, José Fábio SD. Lana, Joyce M. Annichinno-Bizzacchi

ABSTRACT

Background

Promising results were described with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in androgenetic alopecia that could be associated to platelet number and growth factor levels.

Objective

Analyze the platelet number and growth factor levels in PRP and its correlation with hair growth parameters evaluated by TrichoScan.

Methods

Twenty-six patients randomized to receive four subcutaneous injections of PRP or saline. Hair growth, hair density, and percentage of anagen hairs were evaluated before, after and three months after the last injection using TrichoScan method. Growth factors (PDGF, EGF and VEGF) were measured by Luminex method.

Results

We demonstrated a significant increase in hair count (p = 0.0016), hair density (p = 0.012) and percentage of anagen hairs (p = 0.007) in PRP group when compared to control group, without correlation with platelet counts or quantification of the growth factors in PRP.

Conclusion

Our data favors the use of PRP as therapeutic alternative in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. The lack of association between platelet count, PDGF, EGF and VEGF levels and clinical improvement suggest that other mechanisms could be involved in this response.

Limitations

Other growth factors that could be related with PRP response were not evaluated